H.R. No. 34
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The family and friends of Monsignor Raphael Anthony
1-2 Kamel were deeply saddened by the death of this esteemed clergyman
1-3 on May 18, 1992, at the age of 65, and his passing has been a great
1-4 loss to the parishioners of All Saints Catholic Church and to the
1-5 people of the Diocese of Dallas-Fort Worth; and
1-6 WHEREAS, Born on July 28, 1926, to Namie and Emily Kamel, he
1-7 attended public schools in Tyler, as well as Tyler Commercial
1-8 College, before entering St. John Seminary in San Antonio, where he
1-9 began his rigorous preparation for the priesthood in 1947; and
1-10 WHEREAS, Completing his religious studies at Assumption
1-11 Seminary in San Antonio, he received the sacrament of Holy Orders
1-12 on April 19, 1954, when he was ordained by Bishop Thomas K. Gorman
1-13 at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Dallas; and
1-14 WHEREAS, Father Kamel began his long and rewarding religious
1-15 ministry in the Dallas-Fort Worth diocese shortly after his
1-16 ordination when he was assigned as an assistant pastor at St. Pius
1-17 X Parish in Dallas; he served in this capacity from 1954 to 1959;
1-18 and
1-19 WHEREAS, In 1959, the young priest was appointed to the post
1-20 of secretary and master of ceremonies to Bishop Gorman and served
1-21 for a year in that post before returning to the pastoral role that
1-22 was central to his life's work as a faithful servant of God; and
1-23 WHEREAS, Continuing to grow in his priestly ministry with
1-24 each successive assignment, he tended to the spiritual and temporal
2-1 needs of the community as an assistant pastor at St. Monica's
2-2 Catholic Church in Dallas from 1960 to 1964, as pastor at
2-3 St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Fort Worth from 1965 to
2-4 1966, and as pastor at St. Luke's Catholic Church in Irving from
2-5 1966 to 1976; and
2-6 WHEREAS, With the founding of All Saints Parish in 1976,
2-7 Father Kamel was given the opportunity to employ the special gifts
2-8 and talents with which he had been blessed and which he had
2-9 diligently developed during the course of his ministry; providing
2-10 dynamic leadership, spiritual guidance, and compassionate
2-11 understanding to his parishioners, he nurtured this fledgling
2-12 Dallas parish into a vibrant and growing community of faith over
2-13 the next 16 years; and
2-14 WHEREAS, In addition to the many parochial responsibilities
2-15 he bore as the pastor of All Saints Catholic Church, he also
2-16 undertook many diocesan duties and rendered invaluable service to
2-17 the Christian community at large; and
2-18 WHEREAS, Appointed chancellor for the Dallas diocese in 1972,
2-19 he served at various times as spiritual director of Holy Trinity
2-20 Seminary in Irving and as a member of several diocesan advisory
2-21 boards, including the College of Consultors, the Presbyteral
2-22 Council, the Priests Personnel Board, and the Diocesan Building
2-23 Commission; he also was active in ecumenical and interfaith
2-24 relations and was a strong supporter of the Dallas Lebanese
2-25 community, particularly Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic
2-26 Mission; and
2-27 WHEREAS, In recognition of his outstanding dedication to a
3-1 life of service in the name of the Lord, Father Kamel was elevated
3-2 to the papal rank of domestic prelate, with the title of monsignor
3-3 in 1980; and
3-4 WHEREAS, His compassion, wisdom, and abiding concern for the
3-5 well-being of others earned him the love and respect of everyone
3-6 who looked to him for spiritual comfort, guidance, and
3-7 understanding, and although his presence is gone from us now, the
3-8 memory of this humble servant of God and the example of his
3-9 indomitable faith will continue to be a source of unending solace
3-10 and inspiration to all who knew and loved him; now, therefore, be
3-11 it
3-12 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
3-13 Legislature hereby honor the memory of Monsignor Raphael Anthony
3-14 Kamel and extend deepest sympathy to the members of his family: to
3-15 his brothers and sisters, Raymond Kamel of Dallas, Anthony Kamel of
3-16 Houston, Notre Dame Sister Genevieve Kamel of Natchitoches,
3-17 Louisiana, Amelia Procell and Yvonne Kamel, both of Tyler, and
3-18 Yvette Kamel of San Antonio; to his cousins, nephews, and nieces,
3-19 and other members of his family; and, be it further
3-20 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-21 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
3-22 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
3-23 Monsignor Raphael A. Kamel.
3-24 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
3-25 Monsignor Raphael A. Kamel.
3-26 Kamel
3-27 H.R. No. 34
4-1 _______________________________
4-2 Speaker of the House
4-3 I certify that H.R. No. 34 was unanimously adopted by a
4-4 rising vote of the House on March 11, 1993.
4-5 _______________________________
4-6 Chief Clerk of the House