The McKinney Mission began in the year 1870. The first missionary priest to serve the mission was Rev. Joseph C. Martinere. (1870-1874) In an old book of records of the Galveston· Diocese mention is made of McKinney, Texas, that is the McKinney Mission, of course, as far back as 1870. The Galveston Diocese at that time was sending its first Missionaries to North Texas, including McKinney, the seat of the Collin County. In 1894 Fr. A. O'Hara arrived as pastor, being the fifth missionary priest coming to the Mission (1894-1895). Rev. O'Hara was the administrator of the first Catholic Church in McKinney. (See attachments for location.)

On Palm Sunday in 1895, Fr. O'Hara celebrated Mass with eight communicants present. The above date was a very important one which marked the first Catholic Mass celebrated upstairs in the McKinney Opera House * building. Sometime thereafter, a zealous Fr. O'Hara decided to build a small church in the rural town. He solicited donations in the company ofMr. Burnes from the businessmen of the town-all Protestants. Enough money was secured to build a small frame church on the edge of town on a lot donated by Mr. W. C. Thompson, a Protestant real estate man who printed the McKinney Examiner newspaper. The provision was the Catholic members had free use of the lot as long as the building was used for church purposes

Before the first church was built sometime in 1895 or thereafter, the Catholic families attended services in various homes of the members or other locations. every other Sunday at various times, serving eight communicants.

Rev. O'Hara was in charge of the congregation for a short time and said mass every other Sunday. Fr. O'Hara left the mission sometime in 1895. Eleven priests succeeded him during the timeframe of 1870 to 1915.