By: Armbrister S.R. No. 185 1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION 1-2 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pride 1-3 in recognizing the Bicentennial of the founding of the Mission 1-4 Nuestra Senora del Refugio, the last Spanish mission established 1-5 in Texas; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Founded in 1795 by Father Manuel Silva, the 1-7 Mission Nuestra Senora del Refugio was part of an attempt to 1-8 Christianize the Karankawa Indian tribes of the Texas Coastal 1-9 Bend; the location for the mission was on a high spot of a 1-10 prairie within the limits of Rancho de Santa Gertrudis; and 1-11 WHEREAS, During the decade of 1820-1830, the mission was 1-12 abandoned and eventually fell into ruin, but the town of Refugio 1-13 and Refugio County would one day arise from the very stones which 1-14 originally formed the mission's walls; and 1-15 WHEREAS, In 1834, Irish immigrants from Ballygarrett, 1-16 County Wexford, under the leadership of Empresarios James Power 1-17 and James Hewetson, arrived at the mission site after a difficult 1-18 voyage of danger and tragedy; the immigrants carted away the 1-19 stones from the dilapidated walls of the old mission to be used 1-20 for the foundations of homes, garden enclosures, and cisterns; 1-21 and 1-22 WHEREAS, An intriguing historical site today, the town 1-23 of Refugio is a tribute to the mission's founder and to the Irish 2-1 immigrants who used the mission's scattered remains to build a 2-2 town; and 2-3 WHEREAS, In memory of the mission and in honor of the 2-4 Irish immigrants who founded Refugio and as part of a Saint 2-5 Patrick's Day celebration, a mass will be held at Our Lady of 2-6 Refugio Church on Friday, March 17, 1995; now, therefore, be it 2-7 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-8 74th Legislature, hereby extend best wishes to the citizens 2-9 of Refugio on the Bicentennial of the founding of the Mission 2-10 Nuestra Senora del Refugio and on their Saint Patrick's Day 2-11 celebration; and, be it further 2-12 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 2-13 the town of Refugio in honor of its founders and in memory of 2-14 its mission. 2-15 ______________________________________ 2-16 President of the Senate 2-17 I hereby certify that the above 2-18 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 2-19 on February 13, 1995. 2-20 ______________________________________ 2-21 Secretary of the Senate 2-22 ______________________________________ 2-23 Member, Texas Senate