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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, His Eminence, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop |
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of Galveston-Houston, is delivering the invocation to the 81st |
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Texas Legislature on January 13, 2009, and this occasion presents a |
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fitting opportunity to congratulate him on his appointment as the |
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first Roman Catholic Cardinal in the American South; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Nicholas and Jane DiNardo, Cardinal |
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DiNardo was born on May 23, 1949, in Steubenville, Ohio, and grew up |
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in neighboring Pittsburgh; after earning his bachelor's and |
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master's degrees in philosophy from The Catholic University of |
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America, this gifted scholar went on to study theology in Rome at |
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the Pontifical Gregorian University and the Augustinianum; he was |
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ordained in 1977 and served in the Diocese of Pittsburgh as a |
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parochial vicar, an assistant chancellor, and a professor at St. |
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Paul Seminary; and |
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WHEREAS, An appointment to the Vatican Congregation for |
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Bishops took Cardinal DiNardo back to Rome in 1984; six years later, |
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he requested to return to pastoral duties in the United States, and |
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the bishop of Pittsburgh eventually selected him to found the new |
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parish of Saints John and Paul; in addition, he served as an |
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assistant spiritual director at St. Paul Seminary and taught in the |
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formation program for priests; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1997, Cardinal DiNardo was ordained bishop of the |
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Diocese of Sioux City, Iowa; his achievements as a theologian, |
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pastor, educator, and administrator led to his appointment in 2004 |
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as coadjutor bishop of Galveston-Houston; the diocese gained the |
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status of a metropolitan archdiocese later that year, and Cardinal |
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DiNardo succeeded Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza on the Archbishop's |
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retirement; on November 24, 2007, he was elevated to the College of |
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Cardinals, a historic milestone for the archdiocese, which |
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encompasses 10 counties and 1.5 million Catholics within its |
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boundaries; and |
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WHEREAS, Cardinal DiNardo has won wide admiration throughout |
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his career for his insightful sermons, deep compassion, and humble, |
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engaging manner; in guiding the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese, he |
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has made administrative appointments that reflect the area's |
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diversity and has fostered a unity of faith among people of varied |
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ethnic backgrounds; while shepherding a growing flock in South |
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Texas, he also shares his expertise through the United States |
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Conference of Catholic Bishops as an advisor to the National |
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Association of Pastoral Musicians and as a member of the Ad Hoc |
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Committee to Oversee the Use of the Catechism, and serves on the |
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board of The Catholic University of America and with the National |
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Catholic Partnership on Disability; and |
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WHEREAS, The inspiring spiritual leadership of Cardinal |
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DiNardo has ushered in an exciting era for the Galveston-Houston |
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Archdiocese, and his appointment as the first Roman Catholic |
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Cardinal in the southern United States has gladdened the hearts of |
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many people of faith; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby congratulate His Eminence, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, |
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Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, on his elevation to the College of |
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Cardinals and welcome him to the State Capitol. |