NACOGDOCHES, Texas (KTRE) - Community members gathered in Nacogdoches Saturday to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Venerable Antonio Margil de Jesus, a Catholic missionary credited with founding missions across East Texas and helping establish the city of Nacogdoches.

The day-long celebration included a pilgrimage, historical reenactments and a bilingual Mass.

Sounds of hymns and group prayer filled downtown throughout the event.'The Apostle of Texas'Father George Elliot, pastor of Catholic Nacogdoches, said Father Margil is recognized as "the Apostle of Texas because he founded missions through East Texas and really was the first person to bring Christianity to this area."Elliot said the anniversary carries deep significance for the community."The 300th anniversary means that, you know, it's been genuinely centuries, generations of Christians here in Nacogdoches," Elliot said.