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