81R17846 MDM-D
By: Kleinschmidt H.R. No. 1045
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Family, friends, and parishioners are mourning the
loss of Monsignor Edward J. Dokupil of Bastrop, who died on January
18, 2009, at the age of 72; and
WHEREAS, Edward Dokupil was born on October 31, 1936, in
Burlington to Willie Frank and Angela Ermis Dokupil; after
graduating from Rosebud High School, he entered St. Mary's Seminary
in Houston, where he earned his college degree and then pursued
another four years of theological studies; and
WHEREAS, Monsignor Dokupil was ordained as a Catholic priest
in 1964, and after serving as associate pastor at Cristo Rey
Catholic Church in Austin, he went on to pastor Immaculate
Conception Church in Sealy, St. Mary's Catholic Church of the
Assumption in Waco, Church of the Assumption in West, and Sacred
Heart Church in Austin; and
WHEREAS, In 1972, Monsignor Dokupil became the pastor of
Ascension Parish in Bastrop, where he was an inspiring spiritual
leader and mentor for 37 years; over the course of his pastorate,
the membership of the church increased from 100 to more than 1,000
families, and he created a Spanish Mass for the area's growing
Hispanic population; at the time of his death, he was making plans
for the building of a parish activity center; and
WHEREAS, While he was at Sacred Heart in Austin and Ascension
Parish in Bastrop, Monsignor Dokupil also served as the Catholic
chaplain at the Travis State School for 28 years and at Holy Cross
High School for Girls for three years; moreover, he was cofounder of
the Crisis Hotline in Austin and a member of its board of directors,
and he served as chaplain for the Bastrop Police Department; and
WHEREAS, Monsignor Dokupil was a leader in the governance of
the church as well; he held a seat on the Diocesan Presbyteral
Council, and he served as a Diocesan Consultor and as the Bishop's
Dean of the Southern Deanery of the Diocese of Austin; in 2001, he
was granted the title of monsignor by His Holiness, Pope John Paul
II; and
WHEREAS, A caring and compassionate man, Monsignor Edward J.
Dokupil was beloved by all who knew him for his strength, his
wisdom, and his good counsel, and he will be remembered forever for
the unfailing love and dedication he showed to his community; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Monsignor Edward J.
Dokupil and extend sincere condolences to the members of his
family: to his sister, RosaLee Wilkerson, and her husband, George;
to his brothers, Tom Dokupil and his wife, Debbie, Bob Dokupil and
his wife, Grace, Charles Dokupil and his wife, Ann, and William
Dokupil and his wife, Mildred; to his eight nieces and four nephews;
and to his other relatives and many friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Monsignor
Dokupil.