1-1                                     1                                  
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 194
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to join
 1-4     the citizens of San Antonio in recognizing the 270th anniversary
 1-5     of the founding of San Fernando Cathedral, the oldest continuous
 1-6     parish in the State of Texas; and
 1-7           WHEREAS, Located in the Historic Civic Center of
 1-8     San Antonio, on La Plaza de las Islas, San Fernando Cathedral
 1-9     was founded to be the center of the city in 1731, when 16 families
1-10     from the Canary Islands arrived, beginning construction in 1738,
1-11     and dedicating their new church in 1749, making it the oldest
1-12     building in continuous use in the State of Texas; and
1-13           WHEREAS, San Fernando Cathedral has been the site of
1-14     numerous historical events, such as the wedding of James Bowie
1-15     and Ursula de Veramendi and the encampment of Santa Anna's troops
1-16     during the battle of the Alamo; it is the place where the remains
1-17     of the Alamo defenders were buried; and
1-18           WHEREAS, San Fernando Cathedral was enlarged in 1868 when
1-19     a neo-gothic structure was added to the original Spanish colonial
1-20     church and with the formation of the diocese of San Antonio,
1-21     San Fernando was designated a cathedral in 1874; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, San Fernando Cathedral currently is a large and
 2-2     active parish church, which receives over 5,000 people who attend
 2-3     services each week, and conducts over 100 weddings, 600 baptisms,
 2-4     and 100 funerals annually; and
 2-5           WHEREAS, San Fernando Cathedral offers many social services
 2-6     to its inner city people, as well as maintaining cultural and
 2-7     religious traditions for all visitors and broadcasts an
 2-8     internationally televised bilingual Mass which reaches North and
 2-9     South America; and
2-10           WHEREAS, San Fernando Cathedral is the only church in Texas
2-11     to be visited by a pope when Pope John Paul II came to San Antonio
2-12     in 1987; and
2-13           WHEREAS, San Fernando Cathedral is visited by over 100,000
2-14     tourists annually; and
2-15           WHEREAS, San Fernando Cathedral is currently in the midst of
2-16     a major campaign to restore this beautiful monument, which is the
2-17     oldest structure in the State of Texas; now, therefore, be it
2-18           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
2-19     77th Legislature, hereby extend appreciation for the contributions
2-20     of San Fernando Cathedral to the citizens of San Antonio and to
2-21     our state and express admiration for the cathedral's enduring
2-22     beauty, ongoing traditions, and constant service; and, be it
2-23     further
 3-1           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
 3-2     the cathedral as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.
 3-3                                                            Van de Putte
 3-4                                  ______________________________________
 3-5                                          President of the Senate
 3-6                                       I hereby certify that the above
 3-7                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
 3-8                                  on February 14, 2001.
 3-9                                  ______________________________________
3-10                                          Secretary of the Senate
3-11                                  ______________________________________
3-12                                           Member, Texas Senate