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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso, which was |
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founded on March 3, 1914, is launching a yearlong celebration of its |
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centennial on March 3, 2013, and this occasion provides a welcome |
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opportunity to recognize the rich history of the diocese; and |
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WHEREAS, The roots of Catholicism in the El Paso area date |
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back to the late 1600s, when Franciscan missionaries arrived in |
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West Texas; the diocese is home to the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, where |
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the Tigua Indians have preserved their native and Catholic |
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traditions for more than 330 years; and |
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WHEREAS, The 19th and 20th centuries heralded a number of |
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"firsts" for Catholics in the city of El Paso; in 1879, it became |
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the site of the first convent of the Sisters of Loretto in Texas, |
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and in 1892, the Daughters of Charity founded Hotel Dieu, the first |
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hospital in El Paso; a decade later, the city became home to the |
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first council of the Knights of Columbus in Texas; the diocese also |
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helped fund the creation of Mount Cristo Rey, one of the largest |
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statues of Christ in the world, which was completed in 1939 by |
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sculptor Urbici Soler; later that century, in 1978, the Roman |
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Catholic Diocese of El Paso became the first diocese to be led by a |
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Hispanic bishop, Patrick Flores; and |
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WHEREAS, Around the time of its founding by Pope Pius X, the |
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diocese aided thousands of Catholics fleeing Mexico during the |
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Mexican Revolution and the Cristero movement; among them was |
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St. Pedro de Jesus Maldonado Lucero, a priest ordained in El Paso |
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who was killed by Mexican troops in 1939; Father Maldonado Lucero |
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was canonized by Pope John Paul II at the turn of the millennium; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Today, the diocese encompasses an area of nearly |
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27,000 square miles and serves the counties of El Paso, Hudspeth, |
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Culberson, Jeff Davis, Presidio, Brewster, Reeves, Ward, Winkler, |
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and Loving; home to 55 parishes, 20 missions, 11 schools, and 22 |
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ministries, it serves the spiritual needs of more than 680,000 |
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Catholic faithful; the diocese remains committed to social justice |
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through its Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services, one of the |
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largest legal aid clinics in the Southwest, and it coordinates |
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numerous charitable works, which include distributing food and |
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clothing to people in need, along with providing them shelter, |
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education, counseling services, and medical care; moreover, it has |
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contributed to the cultural diversity of the state through its |
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preservation of important historic sites and Hispanic Catholic |
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traditions; and |
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WHEREAS, Guided by the dual patron saints of Our Lady of |
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Guadalupe and Saint Patrick, the Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso |
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has long been a source of fellowship and spiritual enrichment for |
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thousands, and its member parishes remain a positive and vital |
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force in the communities they serve; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 100th anniversary of the |
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founding of the Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso and extend to its |
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parishioners and clergy sincere best wishes for the future; and, be |
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it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the diocese as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |