H.R. No. 961

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, The Montague County Historical Commission hosted the dedication of an Official Texas Historical Marker honoring the Montague Catholic Cemetery on May 26, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Fleeing harsh economic conditions in their home country, Italian immigrants began settling in Montague County in the late 1800s, bringing with them their Catholic faith; local worshippers initially gathered at various homes, and a priest offered mass once a month before St. John Catholic Church was founded in Montague in 1901; and

WHEREAS, On March 8, 1902, what was then named the Roman Catholic Cemetery of Montague was established in a rural Catholic community about one and a half miles southeast of the county seat; two days later, three lots were claimed by early settlers Domenica Fenoglio, Steve Pellissero, and John Vitali, whose infant son, Giroloma Vitali, became the first person buried on the property; today, the site serves Montague County, as well as other parts of central North Texas, and it contains some 250 marked and unmarked graves; and

WHEREAS, For more than 116 years, the Montague Catholic Cemetery has provided a final resting place for individuals who have helped shape the history of Montague and the surrounding area, and it is indeed fitting that its essential role in the community be memorialized; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas Legislature hereby commemorate the dedication of an Official Texas Historical Marker for the Montague Catholic Cemetery and extend to all those who helped bring this project to fruition sincere gratitude for their efforts to preserve the heritage of the Lone Star State.

Springer

______________________________ Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 961 was adopted by the House on April 12, 2019, by a non-record vote.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House