SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 414
         WHEREAS, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church Day is being
  celebrated at the State Capitol on April 16, 2025; and
 
         WHEREAS, In 1949, Bishop Wendelin J. Nold of the Diocese of
  Galveston embarked on a plan to buy property for the construction
  of new parish churches; after identifying 35 Catholic families in
  Houston's Sunnyside neighborhood, Bishop Nold asked Father Michael
  J. Flaherty of Saint Nicholas Catholic Church to locate potential
  sites in the area; in June 1951, negotiations began on a tract of
  land on the southwest corner of what later became Cullen Boulevard
  and Reed Road; and
 
         WHEREAS, Construction on St. Francis Xavier was completed in
  1952, with Father James Clark assigned to lead the church as its
  first pastor; members later built a parish hall, which served as a
  kindergarten, Sunday school classroom, and meeting space, and a
  rectory was added in 1956; and
 
         WHEREAS, Membership grew from 300 to 1,700 in the church's
  first three years, necessitating the expansion of its parish hall
  and catechetical center; plans to add a new building to the campus
  were implemented by Father Elbert Harris, the church's first
  African American pastor; the new hall was used for children's Pre-K
  through grade 12 education and for parish events, and the old hall
  became a senior citizen nutrition center; and
 
         WHEREAS, A new church building was completed and dedicated
  by Bishop John Morkovsky on June 19, 1975; it had a 500-seat
  capacity, as well as a special chapel dedicated to the martyrs of
  Uganda; in the 1990s, the old church building was renovated for use
  as religious education classrooms, and it was renamed the Harris
  Center in honor of Father Elbert Harris; further growth required
  that the church change its address to 4600 Reed Road, and a new
  Harris Center building and rectory were built shortly thereafter;
  and
 
         WHEREAS, This venerable religious institution has played a
  vital role in the community, providing its members with myriad
  opportunities for spiritual growth, fellowship, and outreach;
  its 43 ministries include programs for parishioners of all ages,
  as well as vital community service initiatives; and
 
         WHEREAS, Countless Houston residents have looked to
  St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church for spiritual guidance
  through the years, and it is a pleasure to join in honoring the
  church's rich history; now, therefore, be it
 
         RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th
  Legislature, hereby recognize St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church
  Day at the State Capitol on April 16, 2025, and extend a warm
  welcome to the visiting delegation; and, be it further
 
         RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
  prepared for the church as an expression of high regard from the
  Texas Senate.
 
  Miles
 
 
Alvarado Hagenbuch Menéndez
 
Bettencourt Hall Middleton
 
Birdwell Hancock Nichols
 
Blanco Hinojosa of Hidalgo Parker
 
Campbell Hinojosa of Nueces Paxton
 
Cook Huffman Perry
 
Creighton Hughes Schwertner
 
Eckhardt Johnson Sparks
 
Flores King West
 
Gutierrez Kolkhorst Zaffirini
 
  Patrick, President of the Senate
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        President of the Senate
     
        I hereby certify that the
    above Resolution was adopted by
    the Senate on April 16, 2025.
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        Secretary of the Senate
   
   
    ________________________________ 
         Member, Texas Senate