San Fernando Cathedral

San Fernando Cathedral was founded on March 9, 1731 by a group of 15 families who came from the Canary Islands at the invitation of King Phillip V of Spain and is the oldest, continuously functioning religious community in the State of Texas. This church was planned to be at the center of the life of this city. The Cathedral building has the added distinction of being the oldest standing church building in Texas, and for all of its more than 281 years, has been serving the people of the Archdiocese and San Antonio. For almost 95 years, San Fernando served as the church for all of the religious denominations of San Antonio as the Catholic Church was the only recognized religion of the Spanish and Mexican governments prior to Texas' independence.

St. Joseph's Orphange for Girls (the original site of Santa Rosa Infirmary) was across Military Plaza from San Fernando Church (now Cathedral). The Sisters began teaching children in the orphange, and not long afterward began to accept children of the parish (of San Fernando Church) in the orphanage classes. San Fernando School for Girls was established, the first parochial school in the city, and the first to be conducted by the sisters.