Loretto House was established in 1999

Loretto House was established in 1999 by Sister Margaret Hall, who was at the time director of the Texas County Food Pantry. Located in Houston at 1418 South Sam Houston Boulevard (behind Mercy Clinic), it was named after the House of Nazareth in Loretto, Italy. 

Sister Margaret helped establish the Loretto House as a place for women to set aside life’s pressing demands and gather for a time of peace and fellowship. Sister Margaret was instrumental in starting several new programs for the house and helping change the lives of women around the county.

Today, the Loretto House has undergone some changes. It is still operated by the Texas County Food Pantry, but it also is home to the University of Missouri Texas County Extension Office. The office utilizes most of the building for the services they provide to the county, and oversees the community garden on the property.

The Loretto House is also home to Domestic Violence Counselor Rita Foster, who is employed with Christos House in West Plains, and is that organization’s outreach advocate for Texas County.