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79S30804 CBE-D

By:  Gallego                                                      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.