R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, February 11, 1997, marked the 60th anniversary of

 1-2     the death of martyred priest Father Pedro de Jesus Maldonado; and

 1-3           WHEREAS, Father Maldonado was murdered in Santa Isabel,

 1-4     Mexico, in 1937, in response to his many years of voicing

 1-5     opposition to the Mexican government's persecution of the Catholic

 1-6     Church; Mexican authorities pistol-whipped and brutally beat this

 1-7     gentle man, and he perished the following day at the age of 44; and

 1-8           WHEREAS, Born in June 1892 in Chihuahua City's Barrio San

 1-9     Nicolas, Father Maldonado was drawn to the church at a young age

1-10     but was forced to seek his ordainment in El Paso due to his

1-11     government's stance against Catholicism; he was ordained into the

1-12     priesthood in 1917 and soon returned to his homeland, where he

1-13     began sharing the Word of God with all who cared to listen; and

1-14           WHEREAS, His dedication to the church and his willingness to

1-15     stand up against discrimination have strengthened the memory of

1-16     this remarkable man in his native town; a home where he once was

1-17     arrested for celebrating mass has been converted into a chapel by

1-18     the residents of nearby Santa Isabel and now stands as a fitting

1-19     tribute to his extraordinary life; and

1-20           WHEREAS, Stories of Father Maldonado's bravery and

1-21     compassion, combined with his many other exceptional qualities, led

1-22     Pope John Paul II to beatify him in 1992, an important step toward

1-23     achieving sainthood; the possibility of a regional figure attaining

1-24     this tremendous honor has reawakened interest in this benevolent

 2-1     man among El Paso's Catholic citizens, as well as the city's many

 2-2     non-Catholic residents; and

 2-3           WHEREAS, Thanks to Father Maldonado and the many other

 2-4     courageous individuals who suffered under the harsh treatment of a

 2-5     repressive government, Mexico's many Catholic residents are today

 2-6     able to practice their faith in peace; now, therefore, be it

 2-7           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

 2-8     Legislature hereby commemorate the 60th anniversary of the death of

 2-9     Father Pedro de Jesus Maldonado.

                                                                       Serna

                                                                      Chavez

                                                                      Moreno

                                                                     Pickett

                                                                    Haggerty

                                             _______________________________

                                                   Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.R. No. 236 was unanimously adopted by a

         rising vote of the House on March 20, 1997.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House