Construction of the
National Shrine of the Little Flower
The building located on the corner of Kentucky and Zarzamora originally began as Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Thérèse Church, founded by Spanish friars who came to San Antonio by way of Torreon, Mexico in 1926. The Discalced Carmelite Friars intentionally chose an undeveloped area of San Antonio which had long been home to first generation immigrants from Mexico. Along with wanting to carry out their mission of fostering the evangelization of the Christian body, the Carmelite fathers also wanted to enrich the lives of the community by giving them a “royal house” to worship in.The construction of the National Shrine of the Little Flower was completed in 1931 and it was dedicated in the same year. So, September 29, 2006 marked the buildings 75th anniversary. Adjacent to the church is the monastery housing, a community of Discalced Carmelite friars. The friars carry out apostolic activities and provide teaching on the life of prayer. Across the street from the church is the Little Flower School and the Convent of Sisters of the Holy Spirit. The school is celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2007.It was the spiritual devotion, deep faith, and financial support of thousands of people from all over the world, during the Depression Era which made the original construction of the church possible. It is that same level of commitment that has enabled the Carmelites to carry on restoration activites on the basilica building.