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H.R. No. 366
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Nearly 80 years ago, Father Francis Bugnard, a
French missionary from the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, offered the
first Mass at St. Joseph's Church in Del Rio, and many dedicated
pastors have since followed; and
WHEREAS, A religious order of the Roman Catholic Church, the
OMI was organized in France in 1816 to spread the teachings of the
Church to poor, working people in the country's southern provinces;
in 1849, missionary Oblates arrived in the Texas Lower Rio Grande
Valley, where they began preaching and building chapels as they
traveled along the river on horseback; in 1908, the first parish was
established in Del Rio and Father Bugnard, then pastor at Our Lady
of Guadalupe, discovered the need for a church to serve worshippers
from the Chihuahua area of the city; St. Joseph's Church was
officially blessed on December 8, 1927; and
WHEREAS, With Father Bugnard's retirement six years later,
Father Frederick Caldwell led the church from 1933 to 1935,
organizing and developing several parish societies; succeeding
him, Father Leoncio Maria Roque served St. Joseph's for eight
years, building the first rectory and organizing the Holy Name
Society; in 1943, Father Agustin Perez assumed leadership, guiding
efforts to remodel the sanctuary, installing a new altar, and
establishing the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; and
WHEREAS, Following interim pastor Father Alan Brelivet,
Father Roque returned to the parish for two years in 1952 and
subsequently oversaw the construction of the present-day church;
two interim pastors, Fathers Raymond Jacobs and Joseph Buckley,
followed, and then in 1956, Father Nicolas Diez began a 12-year
tenure; during this time, the church welcomed its first parochial
vicar and St. Joseph's Parish School was opened; Father William
Luyten served the church for a year before the assignment of Father
Jose Velasco, whose decade of service to St. Joseph's included
building the parish offices and remodeling the rectory; and
WHEREAS, After a period of service by interim pastors Fathers
David Tarlizzo, Richard Philion, and Edward Ward, Father Richard
Guerra joined the church in 1983 and remained for almost 10 years;
his parochial vicar, Father Robert Pena, assumed the role of pastor
in 1992 and served for six years, in which time the church purchased
land and built religious activity centers in Cienegas and
Chaparral; St. Joseph's current pastor, Father Ramiro Cortez,
arrived in 1998 and Father William Zapalac joined him as parochial
vicar in 2001; and
WHEREAS, The St. Joseph's community has further benefited
from the commitment and faith of the following parochial vicars:
Fathers James Smith, Robert Coupé, René Copet, Edward Blown, Blas
G. Mokarzel, Manuel Villarreal, and Charles Moran; and
WHEREAS, To devote oneself to religious service is truly a
noble calling, and, through the years, the many dedicated leaders
of St. Joseph's Church in Del Rio have built an inspiring legacy of
compassion and faith; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby honor the former and
present clergy of St. Joseph's Church and extend to all who have
shared their leadership and vision with the congregation through
the years heartfelt appreciation for their outstanding service;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the church as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Gallego
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 366 was adopted by the House on May
10, 2006, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House