By Berlanga H.R. No. 185 75R5979 SAJ-D 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.