SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 104

	WHEREAS, On July 27, 2003, the members of Saint Ann's 
Catholic Church in Somerville, Texas, will celebrate the 90th 
anniversary of their church with a special Mass celebrated by 
His Excellency, the Most Reverend Gregory M. Aymond, Bishop of 
the Diocese of Austin; and

	WHEREAS, The sacrament of Confirmation will be conferred 
upon six youths from Saint Ann's community in Somerville and two 
from Blessed Virgin Mary's community in Old Washington; and

	WHEREAS, The church was established in 1914 in the newly 
chartered town of Somerville; the original building that housed 
Saint Ann's Catholic Church had stood for 55 years on land ceded 
to the Bishop of Galveston on December 29, 1913; and

	WHEREAS, In 1968, a new facility was built featuring a 
recreation center to provide activities for the youth of the 
parish, followed by the construction of the church on Thornberry 
Drive; the church has an outstanding campus, which now includes 
a family center and meets the needs of parishioners, as well as 
other Somerville citizens; and

	WHEREAS, A vital part of the community, Saint Ann's parish 
has established strong ties to Somerville and Burleson County, 
becoming a community resource and making available its facilities 
to various organizations, such as a community quilting club and 
the Burleson County Law Enforcement Association; it also lends 
its baseball field to city schools; and

	WHEREAS, Saint Ann's parish believes in participating in 
the civic life of the community; its members work to support and 
promote ecumenism among all Christian traditions, collaborating 
with the Lyons/Somerville Ministerial Alliance and contributing 
to the outreach program of the Somerville Area Assistance 
Ministries; and

	WHEREAS, The Church's Ecumenical preschool and former 
Ecumenical Day Care Center, administered by the Ecumenical 
Missionary Sisters, has educated hundreds of children in the 
community over the last 39 years; and

	WHEREAS, Saint Ann's community is recognizing seven 
parishioners in their 90s; these seven persons are representative 
of the diversity of the parish communities whose members have 
diligently lived and sustained their Catholic faith in Burleson, 
Lee, and Washington counties; the Saint Ann's community will also 
recognize the many priests who have ministered to the parish; and

	WHEREAS, A parish festival, open to the entire community, 
will be held the day before the official anniversary celebration; 
and

	WHEREAS, A burse for the education of seminarians and 
the continuing education of the clergy will be presented to the 
Clerical Endowment Fund of the Diocese of Austin, in honor of 
Father Robert Mahoney and in recognition of his 22 years of 
ministry at Saint Ann's; and

	WHEREAS, A source of great pride among the members of its 
congregation, Saint Ann's Catholic Church has served the larger 
community for several generations, providing individuals with 
a special place of worship and Christian fellowship; now, 
therefore, be it

	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 
78th Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby recognize the 
members and clergy of Saint Ann's Catholic Church and join them 
in celebrating the 90th anniversary of this venerable institution;
and, be it further

	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared as a 
memento of this grand occasion.
                                                                           Ogden




________________________________ 
    President of the Senate
 
    I hereby certify that the 
above Resolution was adopted by 
the Senate on July 22, 2003.



________________________________ 
    Secretary of the Senate



________________________________ 
     Member, Texas Senate