By Craddick                                          H.C.R. No. 230

         75R13268 SAJ-D                           

                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, On November 6, 1998, members of Saint Ann's Catholic

 1-2     Church in Midland will celebrate the centennial of the church's

 1-3     dedication, and this remarkable milestone is indeed deserving of

 1-4     special praise and recognition; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, The church's history dates back to 1896, when the

 1-6     cornerstone for a mission was laid and, two years later, the

 1-7     mission was dedicated Saint Ann's Catholic Church; and

 1-8           WHEREAS, In 1928, the church was renamed Saint George's

 1-9     Catholic Church in honor of a benefactor, Monsignor George O'Brien;

1-10     when the church was rededicated in 1959, its original name was

1-11     restored to preserve the church's history; and

1-12           WHEREAS, Saint Ann's current sanctuary was completed in 1959;

1-13     its structure was built in the shape of a cross, and the church's

1-14     marble altars and lovely hand-carved wooden statues were made in

1-15     Italy; and

1-16           WHEREAS, Outside the church stands a statue of Saint Ann and

1-17     the Blessed Virgin, and a shrine of the church's patron saint

1-18     greets members as they enter the rear of the sanctuary; and

1-19           WHEREAS, Saint Ann's Catholic Church has been a spiritual

1-20     bedrock in the community over the course of the past century, and

1-21     its lovely edifice continues to serve as a peaceful oasis for many

1-22     of its members; and

1-23           WHEREAS, Throughout its proud history, Saint Ann's Catholic

1-24     Church has provided outstanding spiritual leadership and moral

 2-1     guidance to its congregation; the church stands today as a tribute

 2-2     to the dedication and hard work of its members, past and present,

 2-3     who have devoted their time, energy, and resources to ensure its

 2-4     continued existence as a house of God; now, therefore, be it

 2-5           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

 2-6     hereby honor Saint Ann's Catholic Church on the occasion of the

 2-7     100th anniversary of its dedication and extend best wishes to

 2-8     Monsignor Timothy J. Murphy and the members of his congregation as

 2-9     they prepare to commemorate this significant event; and, be it

2-10     further

2-11           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-12     prepared for Saint Ann's Catholic Church as an expression of high

2-13     regard by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate.