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