R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to honor
1-2 the Most Reverend Rene Henry Gracida, Bishop of Corpus Christi, on
1-3 the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the
1-4 Episcopacy; and
1-5 WHEREAS, Before he received his calling, this New Orleans
1-6 native enjoyed professional careers both as an instructor at the
1-7 University of Houston School of Architecture and as an architect
1-8 with the firm of Donald Barthelma and Associates; and
1-9 WHEREAS, He was drawn to become a Benedictine in 1951 because
1-10 of his love of the liturgy, and after completing his religious
1-11 training at Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, he
1-12 was ordained to the priesthood in 1959; and
1-13 WHEREAS, Bishop Gracida has been well regarded throughout
1-14 the Catholic Church for his utmost devotion to the Lord, and he was
1-15 consecrated as bishop of the Archdiocese of Miami before he was
1-16 installed as first bishop of the Pensacola-Tallahassee Diocese in
1-17 1975; and
1-18 WHEREAS, For more than 13 years, he has faithfully served the
1-19 people of South Texas as fifth bishop of Corpus Christi, in which
1-20 capacity he has offered special strength and wisdom to countless
1-21 individuals; and
1-22 WHEREAS, Bishop Gracida has distinguished himself through his
1-23 active ministry, writing 10 pastoral letters during his Episcopacy
1-24 and further serving the Lord and his community through his
2-1 involvement in several worthy causes; deeply committed to
2-2 immigration and migration issues, he was the National Episcopal
2-3 Promoter of the Apostleship of the Sea in the United States for 17
2-4 years and also chaired many church conferences on migration; and
2-5 WHEREAS, This respected clergyman has strongly supported the
2-6 concerns of migrant farm workers as well, traveling to the sugar
2-7 beet fields of Nebraska and Wyoming to celebrate the sacraments,
2-8 bless their families and the crops, and sometimes even weed rows of
2-9 vegetables; and
2-10 WHEREAS, Bishop Gracida's commitment further extends to
2-11 religious education issues; he is a staunch supporter of Catholic
2-12 schools and religious education programs for children and adults,
2-13 and he was instrumental in the creation of the Pastoral Institute
2-14 in the diocese in 1984; and
2-15 WHEREAS, In Bishop Gracida, the church has found both a
2-16 preacher and a stalwart friend for the work of the ministry; his
2-17 religious guidance has provided comfort and spiritual support to
2-18 countless individuals, and he is indeed worthy of our highest
2-19 praise and recognition as he celebrates 25 years of service to the
2-20 Episcopacy; now, therefore, be it
2-21 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas
2-22 Legislature hereby honor the Most Reverend Rene Henry Gracida,
2-23 Bishop of Corpus Christi, and extend to him warmest best wishes on
2-24 the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the
2-25 Episcopacy; and, be it further
2-26 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-27 prepared for Bishop Gracida as an expression of highest regard by
3-1 the Texas House of Representatives.
Berlanga
Laney Gutierrez Oliveira
Alexander Haggerty Olivo
Allen Hamric Palmer
Alvarado Hartnett Patterson
Averitt Hawley Pickett
Bailey Heflin Pitts
Berlanga Hernandez Place
Bonnen Hightower Price
Bosse Hilbert Puente
Brimer Hilderbran Rabuck
Burnam Hill Ramsay
Carter Hinojosa Rangel
Chavez Hirschi Raymond
Chisum Hochberg Reyna of Bexar
Christian Hodge Reyna of Dallas
Clark Holzheauser Rhodes
Coleman Horn Rodriguez
Cook Howard Roman
Corte Hunter Sadler
Counts Hupp Seaman
Crabb Isett Serna
Craddick Jackson Shields
Cuellar Janek Siebert
Culberson Jones of Lubbock Smith
Danburg Jones of Dallas Smithee
Davila Junell Solis
Davis Kamel Solomons
Delisi Keel Staples
Denny Keffer Stiles
Driver King Swinford
Dukes Krusee Talton
Dunnam Kubiak Telford
Dutton Kuempel Thompson
Edwards Lewis of Tarrant Tillery
Ehrhardt Lewis of Orange Torres
Eiland Longoria Turner of Coleman
Elkins Luna Turner of Harris
Farrar McCall Uher
Finnell McClendon Van de Putte
Flores McReynolds Walker
Gallego Madden West
Galloway Marchant Williams
Garcia Maxey Williamson
Giddings Merritt Wilson
Glaze Moffat Wise
Goodman Moreno Wohlgemuth
Goolsby Mowery Wolens
Gray Naishtat Woolley
Greenberg Nixon Yarbrough
Grusendorf Oakley Zbranek
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 185 was adopted by the House on
February 19, 1997, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House