82S10360 MMS-D

By: Guillen H.R. No. 48

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, For more than 140 years, Immaculate Conception Church has played a central role in the life of Rio Grande City; and

WHEREAS, The Oblates of Mary Immaculate have served the Catholic population of the community since 1853, but no clergy were stationed in the community until the creation of a parish there in 1880; Father J. M. Jaffres, O.M.I., became the first resident pastor, and Father Alexis de Saules, O.M.I., was assigned to assist him; and

WHEREAS, A parish school was established in 1884, staffed by members of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word; that order was succeeded by the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament in 1900, the Sisters of Mercy in the early 1920s, and the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1985; today the faculty includes both religious and lay members, and the school offers instruction from prekindergarten through the eighth grade; and

WHEREAS, The first church building, dedicated to Our Lady of Refuge, was blessed on January 3, 1870, and it served the parish until the present church was constructed in 1967; a number of other building programs have been undertaken at various times to meet the evolving needs of the parishioners; and

WHEREAS, Immaculate Conception Church is especially renowned for its grotto, which is a replica of the famous shrine at Lourdes, France; dedicated in 1928, the grotto is built of local stone and petrified wood and incorporates statues of the Virgin Mary and of Bernadette; and

WHEREAS, Since its founding, this historic church has benefited from the guidance of many devoted clergymen, and today the congregation is ably led by the Reverend Jean Olivier M. Sambu; and

WHEREAS, Countless area residents have looked to Immaculate Conception Church for spiritual renewal and enrichment over the years, and its parishioners continue to find comfort, inspiration, and the welcoming embrace of a caring community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby recognize Immaculate Conception Church for its many decades of dedicated service to its community and extend to all those associated with the church sincere best wishes as they carry forward its mission in the years ahead; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Immaculate Conception Church as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.