Under the pastoral leadership of Father Esteban De Anta of the Oblate Fathers of Mary Immaculate, Sister Benitia (1915-1938) tried to provide for the Mexican population in Houston. During the early 1900s, Mexican people were not welcomed in Houston nor any of the surrounding churches.

Despite the segregation and discrimination, the Mexican population in Houston was growing exponentially every year as more and more immigrants left Mexico, particularly during and after Mexico’s Revolution. Many Mexican immigrants settled in or near Second Ward and they attended Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, which was the only church in Houston for Mexican people at that time.

Some of these families were able to send their children to the school to receive a private education. Although the number of students attending the private school was growing, there were still many Mexican children in nearby neighborhoods that were not attending school whatsoever. Sister Benitia quickly realized that she was going to need help providing a Catholic education to the growing Mexican population.