1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 765 1-3 WHEREAS, Bishop Roberto Octavio Gonzalez Nieves who 1-4 has headed the Corpus Christi Diocese since 1997 was named 1-5 Archbishop-Designate of San Juan de Puerto Rico on March 26, 1999, 1-6 by His Holiness Pope John Paul II, and the Texas Senate is proud 1-7 to recognize him on this momentous occasion; and 1-8 WHEREAS, San Juan de Bautista Cathedral in San Juan will be 1-9 the site of the installation on May 8, 1999, and this date also 1-10 serves as the 22nd anniversary of Bishop Roberto's ordination to 1-11 the priesthood; and 1-12 WHEREAS, The Diocese of Corpus Christi has been privileged 1-13 to have him for nearly four years and he will continue as Apostolic 1-14 Administrator until a replacement is named; and 1-15 WHEREAS, Born on June 2, 1950, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, he 1-16 attended Saint Joseph Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, New York, 1-17 and Siena College in Loudonville, New York; and 1-18 WHEREAS, In 1970, he became affiliated with the Franciscan 1-19 Order at Christ House in Lafayette, New Jersey, and professed his 1-20 first vows in 1972; he earned a master's degree in theology at the 1-21 Washington Theological Coalition in Silver Springs, Maryland, and 1-22 was ordained to the priesthood May 8, 1977; and 1-23 WHEREAS, Subsequent to his ordination, he was appointed a 1-24 parochial vicar at Saint Pius V Parish in Bronx, New York, where 2-1 he initiated an innovative program for the poor named "Pueblo en 2-2 Marcha" and attended Fordham University earning a master's degree 2-3 and a doctorate in sociology; and 2-4 WHEREAS, Being named auxiliary bishop of Boston in 1988 made 2-5 him the youngest Catholic bishop in the United States, a distinction 2-6 he held until 1994; and 2-7 WHEREAS, The newly appointed archbishop will be charged with 2-8 overseeing the spiritual welfare of the first diocese founded in 2-9 the New World; having attended Academia Santa Monica primary school 2-10 in Santurce, Puerto Rico, he will be returning as the 58th bishop 2-11 to serve the island; and 2-12 WHEREAS, Archbishop Gonzalez will be responsible for the 2-13 northeast portion of Puerto Rico that has a Catholic population 2-14 of about 890,000; his message to the diocese will emphasize the 2-15 importance of the family and that the new evangelization is 2-16 essential; and 2-17 WHEREAS, Blessed with the innate ability to bring people 2-18 together, Archbishop Gonzalez is well prepared to face the 2-19 challenges before him; now, therefore, be it 2-20 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-21 76th Legislature, hereby extend sincere congratulations and best 2-22 wishes to Archbishop Roberto Octavio Gonzalez Nieves in his future 2-23 endeavors; and, be it further 2-24 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 2-25 this esteemed gentleman as an expression of the admiration of the 2-26 Texas Senate. 3-1 Truan, Zaffirini 3-2 Armbrister Gallegos Nelson 3-3 Barrientos Harris Nixon 3-4 Bernsen Haywood Ogden 3-5 Bivins Jackson Ratliff 3-6 Brown Lindsay Shapiro 3-7 Cain Lucio Shapleigh 3-8 Carona Luna Sibley 3-9 Duncan Madla Wentworth 3-10 Ellis Moncrief West 3-11 Fraser Whitmire 3-12 Perry, President of the Senate 3-13 ______________________________________ 3-14 President of the Senate 3-15 I hereby certify that the above 3-16 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-17 on April 30, 1999. 3-18 ______________________________________ 3-19 Secretary of the Senate 3-20 ______________________________________ 3-21 Dean of the Senate 3-22 ______________________________________ 3-23 Member, Texas Senate