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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Bishop John E. McCarthy of Austin passed away on |
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August 18, 2018, at the age of 88, leaving behind an exceptional |
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record of social advocacy and charity work; and |
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WHEREAS, John McCarthy was born in Houston on June 21, 1930, |
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to George and Grace McCarthy; a graduate of St. Thomas High School, |
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he received a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in theology |
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from the University of St. Thomas; and |
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WHEREAS, Ordained to the priesthood on May 26, 1956, Bishop |
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McCarthy spent the early years of his career in Pasadena, where he |
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served as assistant pastor at St. Pius Parish; following his tenure |
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as assistant pastor at St. Cecilia's Parish and administrator of |
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All Saints' Parish, both in Houston, he was appointed executive |
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director of the Bishops' Committee for the Spanish Speaking in San |
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Antonio; and |
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WHEREAS, From 1967 through 1969, Bishop McCarthy was involved |
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with the U.S. Catholic Conference in Washington, D.C., and served |
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as director of the Division for Poverty Programs; embracing the |
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civil rights movement, he became a founding member of the Catholic |
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Campaign for Human Development, which addresses poverty nationwide |
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and holds civic leaders accountable for their communities; he |
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returned to Houston in 1969 as pastor of St. Theresa's Parish and |
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went on to serve as executive director of the Texas Catholic |
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Conference and auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of |
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Galveston-Houston; and |
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WHEREAS, Appointed bishop of the Austin Diocese in 1986, |
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Bishop McCarthy dedicated himself to meeting the needs of his |
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fast-growing district throughout his 15-year tenure; known for his |
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signature mantra of "Let us go forth, and let us go forth together," |
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he established missionary programs, encouraged social advocacy and |
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charity work, and opened Catholic schools and parishes, never |
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seeking recognition for his achievements; and |
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WHEREAS, Profoundly devoted to his faith, to serving the |
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poor, and to reaching out to people of all backgrounds, Bishop John |
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McCarthy touched the lives of countless individuals in ways beyond |
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measure, and his compassionate, selfless works will be remembered |
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with deepest appreciation; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Bishop John E. |
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McCarthy and extend deepest sympathy to all those who mourn his |
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passing; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Bishop John |
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McCarthy. |