SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 290
WHEREAS, The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas is
celebrating the 125th anniversary of its founding in 2015; and
WHEREAS, In response to the growth of the Catholic
population in Texas, Pope Leo XIII created the Diocese of Dallas
in 1890; Thomas Francis Brennan of Tipperary, Ireland, was
appointed as the first bishop over an area that encompassed most
of North and West Texas; and
WHEREAS, Through the years, the Diocese of Dallas has
evolved to accommodate the changing needs of its parishioners,
with the establishment of such institutions as the Texas Catholic
diocesan newspaper, Holy Trinity College, and Saint Paul
Hospital; in 1902, the Sacred Heart Cathedral was constructed
when the congregation outgrew the simple wooden church that had
previously served as the seat of the diocese; as the local
Catholic population continued to increase, the boundaries were
redrawn several times to form the Dioceses of El Paso, Amarillo,
Austin, San Angelo, Fort Worth, and Tyler, and today, the Diocese
of Dallas covers an area of 7,523 square miles, including Collin,
Dallas, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro, and
Rockwall Counties, and it is one of the fastest growing dioceses
in the country; and
WHEREAS, Since 2007, the faithful of the diocese have
benefited from the wise and compassionate oversight of Bishop
Kevin Joseph Farrell, who is leading an effort not only to
increase parish support for families and children but also to
advance work on restoration of the landmark Cathedral Shrine of
the Virgin of Guadalupe; and
WHEREAS, Countless Texans have looked to the Catholic
Diocese of Dallas for spiritual guidance over the last 125 years,
and its member parishes continue to be a positive and vital force
in the communities they serve; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th
Legislature, hereby commemorate the 125th anniversary of the founding
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas and extend to its parishioners
and clergy sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the
diocese as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.
Huffines
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on March 4, 2015.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate