Soon after they settled in the area, Westphalia's first families named their community after the Westphalia province in Germany from which many of them had immigrated. They began having Sunday prayer meetings in the home of Theodore Rabroker, the first settler. These were times of worship and fellowship, and because they were pleased with the soil and location, the German natives purchased 100 acres of land for a church and school. Their efforts were thwarted, however, when the first two structures were destroyed by storms in the early 1880s. During a meeting on Christmas Eve in 1893, Rev. Michael Heintzelman recommended building a new and larger church. After Rev. H M. Simoni drew the plans and Andreus Fuchs of Tours was hired as contractor, work began shortly after the new year.
    All the stone for the foundation was shipped by rail to Lott from a quarry in Muldoon, Texas, and the timber was brought from Waco. Parishioners volunteered to haul, without charge, all building materials from the nearest railroad. As many as 80 loads were hauled with wagons from Lott in one day - a distance of eight miles.
    The church was designed in the shape of a Latin cross with a bell tower on each side of its center area; it measures 120 feet long and 52 feet wide. To tolerate a strong wind, six inches of sway was built into the towers. The towers are covered with copper sheeting and each is topped with a nine-foot stainless steel cross. The middle section carries a six-foot cross.
    The church contains more than 20 stained glass windows, all shipped to Westphalia from Germany. The largest stained glass window is directly behind the main altar and depicts the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin. The two side windows depict images of St Monica and the Archangel Michael. The main altar was purchased for $700 and was shipped from Germany. The 11-foot pews are pine, and are hand planed and hand joined with screws. Several pioneer families donated three large bells in the towers. Interior painting and decorations were originally done by H. A. Sokolowski, an artist from Bernardo Prairie, Texas.
    The Church of Visitation was completed in February of 1895 at a cost of $8,000, as most of the carpentry was done by parishioners. The Most Rev. N. A. Gallagher, D.D., Bishop of Galveston, dedicated the new structure on May 23, 1895.
    In 1914, a large, arched, dome-shaped structure was added to the east end of the building, enlarging the sanctuary.
Donated by Mrs. Theresia Bockholt, the large pipe organ was built in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1914 by Kilgen and Son, Inc. The choir loft was enlarged and the organ was installed in March of 1921. It was refurbished in 1979 and is played each Sunday as well as on special occasions.
    On December 31, 1978, the historical Church of the Visitation, one of the largest wooden churches in the State of Texas, received official recognition with the erection of a Texas Historical Marker. On May 15, 1996, the community was recognized as a Rural Historic District, which encompasses 5,500 acres of farmland, the church, and many other historic sites in the area. The district is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
    On July 29, 2019, a spark from an undetermined source caused the beautiful, historical church to catch fire.  With a strong south wind that morning, the enormous flames consumed the entire structure in less than an hour.  Only a couple of statues and a bench were salvaged before the walls fell. 
    Immediately, a building committee was elected from the community and negotiations began between the diocese and insurance companies for a replacement.  With input from the community, committee members insisted that the new structure replicate the old as much as possible and contain bell towers, wooden floor, loft, shape of a cross, stained glass windows, and ornate altars.  With input from a spiritual architect, Michael Raio, minor changes were incorporated such as baptismal font in the entry, aisles relocated to improve circulation, and a larger narthex.  
    Keith Helpert, owner of K4 Construction Company from Waco, was hired to design and build the new church.  Keith has deep family ties to Westphalia.  Julie Ellison, architect for K4 Construction, designed the new structure. 
    A groundbreaking ceremony was held September 9, 2020 by Bishop Joe Vasquez of the Austin Diocese.  However, final approval of the design and all changes were not solidified by the diocese and insurance companies until December, 2020.  Construction began January 25, 2021.

Rev. Darrell Kostiha     2019 - Present
Rev. Edwin Kagoo     2016 - 2019
Rev. Walter Dhanwar     2005 - 2016



Rev. Harold Hughes, CSC     1975 - ??
Rev. Gideon Stram     1969 - 1975
Rev. Bernard Snock     1969
Rev. Aleck Lazek     1968 - 1969
Rev. Ben Goertz     1966 - 1968
Rev. Harry Bilski     1965 - 1966
Rev. Leonard Buxkemper     1956 - 1965
Rev. Robert P. Schertz     1935 - 1969
Rev. Otto Bauer     1929 - 1935
Rev. Michael Heintzelman, Galveston Diocese     1893 - 1929
Various priests from Austin, Ohio and Temple     1884 – 1886
Rev. John Lauth, CSC, St. Edward’s College, Austin     1882 - 1884

    The Westphalia community has always been proud of the number of young men and women who have dedicated their lives to serving the people of God.  Taking an oath of celibacy and obedience, several young men became priests to attend the spiritual, pastoral, moral and educational needs of people in parishes to which they were assigned:

PRIESTS
Rev. Darrell Kostiha     June 6, 2015
Rev. Elmer Holtman     May 30, 1964
Rev. Alvin Wilde     May 13, 1961 in Wall, TX
Msgr. Werner Bockholt     May 18, 1950
Msgr. Sylvester Fuchs     May 15, 1949
Msgr. Clyde Holtman     May 15, 1949
Msgr. Edward Rabroker     May 22, 1948
Rev. Andrew Didner     December 19, 1942
Msgr. Robert Fuchs     May 11, 1941
Msgr. George Rabroker     May 11, 1941
Rev. Henry Gottschalk    May 18, 1939
Msgr. Herbert Bockholt     May 18, 1939
Rev. Robert Frei     December 21, 1907


DEACONS
Charlie Wright     June 18, 2000
Johnnie Thornton, Jr.     June 18, 2000
Bill Smetana     June 9, 1991
Leroy Beach     1979

Note:  Date on right is ordination date.

   Many young women, answering a divine call and an openness to grace, became nuns to share God’s message of faith and the joy of religious life with others through education, vocations, prayer and culture.

Sister Anita (Anita Brenek)  1970
Sister Mary Paschal (Mildred Cecelia Hoelscher)  1949
Sister Mary Clemence (Mary Agnes Ribitzki)  1948
Sister Mary Daniel (Elizabeth Christine Greger)  1947
Sister Miriam Joseph (Bertha Ketterman)  1947
Sister Mary Audrey (Ottilie Fuchs)  1944
Sister Mary Dolores (Cecelia Kasner)  1941
Sister Mary Sylvester (Agnes Niekamp)  1937
Sister Mary Boniface (Alma Ottilia Dehmer)  1937
Sister M. Liliosa (Rose Fuchs)  1937
Sister Mary Innocentia (Elsie Buxkemper)  1935
Sister Mary Conrad (Margaretha Agnes Sehon)  1934
Sister Mary Maurice (Mary Ann Guede)  1933
Sister Mary Tharsilla (Mary Fuchs)  1932
Sister Mary Antonio (Rosa Sehon)  1930
Sister Mary Rachel (Minnie Alice Geistman)  1929
Sister Mary Georgiana (Annie Schibli  1925
Sister Mary Constance (Helen Lucy Benke)  1924
Sister Mary Marcus (Elizabeth Moeller)  1924
Sister Mary Anicetus (Charlotte Karnowski)  1924
Sister Mary Silverius (Martha Karnowski)  1924
Sister Mary Theordoret (Louise Entrop)  1923
Sister Mary Rosalie (Elizabeth Roessler)  1921
Sister Mary Rosalia (Annie Roessler)  1921
Sister Mary Helen (Mary Roessler)  1918
Sister Mary Christine Isidore Moeller  1916
Sister Mary Florentina (Emma Frei)  1912
Sister Mary Persaveranda (Eva Frei)  1912
Sister Mary Sabina Jansing  1911
Sister Mary Ludwina (Adela Frei)  1910
Sister Mary Opportunia (Louisa Hoelscher)  1909
Sister Mary Paul (Rosa Benke)  1905
Sister Mary Theophilia (Margaret Buxkemper)  1904
Sister Mary Philipina (Elizabeth Heese)  1904
Sister Mary Febronia (Mary Voltin)  1904
Sister Adela (Emilie Frei)  1903
Sister Mary Isidore (Rosa Voltin)  1902
Sister Mary Rodriquez (Anna Jansing)  1900

Note:  Date on right is the year of final vows.