83R2931 BK-D
By: Pickett H.R. No. 45
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso, which was
founded on March 3, 1914, is launching a yearlong celebration of its
centennial on March 3, 2013, and this occasion provides a welcome
opportunity to recognize the rich history of the diocese; and
WHEREAS, The roots of Catholicism in the El Paso area date
back to the late 1600s, when Franciscan missionaries arrived in
West Texas; the diocese is home to the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, where
the Tigua Indians have preserved their native and Catholic
traditions for more than 330 years; and
WHEREAS, The 19th and 20th centuries heralded a number of
"firsts" for Catholics in the city of El Paso; in 1879, it became
the site of the first convent of the Sisters of Loretto in Texas,
and in 1892, the Daughters of Charity founded Hotel Dieu, the first
hospital in El Paso; a decade later, the city became home to the
first council of the Knights of Columbus in Texas; the diocese also
helped fund the creation of Mount Cristo Rey, one of the largest
statues of Christ in the world, which was completed in 1939 by
sculptor Urbici Soler; later that century, in 1978, the Roman
Catholic Diocese of El Paso became the first diocese to be led by a
Hispanic bishop, Patrick Flores; and
WHEREAS, Around the time of its founding by Pope Pius X, the
diocese aided thousands of Catholics fleeing Mexico during the
Mexican Revolution and the Cristero movement; among them was
St. Pedro de Jesus Maldonado Lucero, a priest ordained in El Paso
who was killed by Mexican troops in 1939; Father Maldonado Lucero
was canonized by Pope John Paul II at the turn of the millennium;
and
WHEREAS, Today, the diocese encompasses an area of nearly
27,000 square miles and serves the counties of El Paso, Hudspeth,
Culberson, Jeff Davis, Presidio, Brewster, Reeves, Ward, Winkler,
and Loving; home to 55 parishes, 20 missions, 11 schools, and 22
ministries, it serves the spiritual needs of more than 680,000
Catholic faithful; the diocese remains committed to social justice
through its Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services, one of the
largest legal aid clinics in the Southwest, and it coordinates
numerous charitable works, which include distributing food and
clothing to people in need, along with providing them shelter,
education, counseling services, and medical care; moreover, it has
contributed to the cultural diversity of the state through its
preservation of important historic sites and Hispanic Catholic
traditions; and
WHEREAS, Guided by the dual patron saints of Our Lady of
Guadalupe and Saint Patrick, the Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso
has long been a source of fellowship and spiritual enrichment for
thousands, and its member parishes remain a positive and vital
force in the communities they serve; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the 100th anniversary of the
founding of the Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso and extend to its
parishioners and clergy sincere best wishes for the future; and, be
it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the diocese as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.