1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 235 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to join 1-4 the citizens of San Antonio in recognizing San Fernando Cathedral, 1-5 America's oldest continuous parish; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Located on the west side of La Plaza de las Islas 1-7 in San Antonio, San Fernando Cathedral is a large and busy parish 1-8 church which embodies the soul of the city; approximately 900 1-9 baptisms, 70 funerals, and 100 marriages are performed at the 1-10 church annually, and many of the services are conducted in Spanish; 1-11 and 1-12 WHEREAS, The cathedral had its beginnings in 1731 when the 1-13 earliest Spanish families arrived in San Antonio from the 1-14 Canary Islands; they began construction of a church and laid the 1-15 cornerstone in 1738; the building was ready to receive worshipers 1-16 in 1749; and 1-17 WHEREAS, The church was completed in 1755, and the original 1-18 walls still stand, forming what is now the sanctuary of the 1-19 present church and constituting the oldest standing structure in 1-20 the City of San Antonio; and 1-21 WHEREAS, Named in honor of Ferdinand III, King of Castile, 2-1 who died in 1252, the cathedral has been the site of numerous 2-2 historical events, such as the wedding of James Bowie and 2-3 Ursula de Veramendi; in 1836, Santa Anna's troops camped on the 2-4 cathedral grounds, and many years after the Battle of the Alamo, 2-5 ashes of the Alamo's Texas heroes were placed in a marble crypt 2-6 inside the church; and 2-7 WHEREAS, In 1868, renovation of the church began, and a 2-8 gabled roof and twin towers were added; with the formation of 2-9 the Diocese of San Antonio in 1874, the church was designated a 2-10 cathedral, and during the mid-1970s, another major restoration 2-11 took place; further repairs were made in preparation for the 1987 2-12 visit by Pope John Paul II; and 2-13 WHEREAS, A magnificent edifice with beautiful furnishings, 2-14 San Fernando Cathedral has endured as the spiritual center of 2-15 San Antonio, and over 4,000 citizens participate in weekend 2-16 Masses each week of the year; now, therefore, be it 2-17 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-18 77th Legislature, hereby extend appreciation for the 2-19 contributions of San Fernando Cathedral to the citizens of 2-20 San Antonio and to our state and admiration for the cathedral's 2-21 beauty, classic simplicity, and ongoing traditions; and, be it 2-22 further 2-23 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 2-24 the cathedral as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate. 3-1 Van de Putte 3-2 Armbrister Gallegos Ogden 3-3 Barrientos Harris Shapiro 3-4 Bernsen Haywood Shapleigh 3-5 Bivins Jackson Sibley 3-6 Brown Lindsay Staples 3-7 Cain Lucio Truan 3-8 Carona Madla Wentworth 3-9 Duncan Moncrief West 3-10 Ellis Nelson Whitmire 3-11 Fraser Zaffirini 3-12 Ratliff, 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 February 14, 2001. 3-18 ______________________________________ 3-19 Secretary of the Senate 3-20 ______________________________________ 3-21 Member, Texas Senate