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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of the Diocese of Austin will |
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be installed as the ninth archbishop of Galveston-Houston on |
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March 25, 2025; and |
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WHEREAS, Appointed to his current position in 2010, Bishop |
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Vásquez serves as a consultant to the United States Conference of |
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Catholic Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities and as lead |
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bishop for Region X for the Fifth National Encuentro of |
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Hispanic/Latino Ministry; he previously served the USCCB in a |
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number of roles, including as chair of the Committee on Migration |
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and as a member of the Administrative Committee and the Committee |
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for Religious Liberty; in addition, he was a consultant for the |
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Committees on International Justice and Peace and on Domestic |
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Justice and Human Development, as well as for the Subcommittee on |
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Hispanic Affairs and Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism; he further |
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served on the boards of Catholic Relief Services and the Catholic |
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Legal Immigration Network; and |
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WHEREAS, Bishop Vásquez was installed as auxiliary bishop of |
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the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in 2002, becoming the nation's |
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youngest active bishop; during his tenure, he served as the vicar |
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general/chancellor, overseeing administrative operations of the |
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archdiocese, which is the largest in the state and the 11th largest |
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in the country; he was also episcopal vicar for Hispanics and the |
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liaison for youth; and |
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WHEREAS, A Stamford native, Bishop Vásquez attended Stamford |
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and Abilene public schools; he studied theology at the University |
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of St. Thomas in Houston and continued his education in Rome at the |
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Gregorian University, North American College; ordained a priest for |
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the Diocese of San Angelo in 1984, he served as associate pastor of |
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St. Joseph Parish in Odessa, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Fort |
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Stockton, and pastor of St. Joseph Parish in San Angelo; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of 15 years, Bishop Vásquez has |
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greatly benefited the Austin Diocese through his wisdom, |
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compassion, and unwavering devotion, and his bicultural approach to |
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spiritual leadership will make an even wider impact in the faith |
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community as he takes on his new role; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Bishop Joe S. Vásquez on his |
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installation as archbishop of Galveston-Houston and honor him for |
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his many years of service to the Diocese of Austin; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Bishop Vásquez as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Hinojosa |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 462 was adopted by the House on March |
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31, 2025, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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