H.R. No. 57
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew to
a close with the passing of the Most Reverend Raymundo J. Peña,
bishop emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville, on
September 24, 2021, at the age of 87; and
WHEREAS, The son of Cosme and Elisa Peña, Raymundo Peña was
born in Corpus Christi on February 19, 1934, and he grew up in
Robstown; answering his call to the priesthood, he entered the
St. John's and Assumption Seminaries in San Antonio and was
ordained on May 25, 1957, at the Corpus Christi Cathedral; he served
in parish posts as a diocesan youth director and as editor of the
Texas Gulf Coast Catholic; and
WHEREAS, Ordained as a bishop in 1976, this esteemed
clergyman was named the auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of San
Antonio that same year and also served as administrator; in 1980, he
embarked on a 15-year tenure as bishop for the Catholic Diocese of
El Paso; among his many accomplishments, he founded the Progress:
Catholic Ministry Appeal and the Rio Grande Catholic, the official
newspaper of the El Paso diocese; he also helped develop the Tepeyac
Institute, which offers training for church ministry; and
WHEREAS, In 1995, the Most Reverend Peña was appointed bishop
of the Brownsville diocese; nearly a decade and a half later, in
2009, he retired as the longest-serving active Hispanic bishop in
the U.S.; an admired leader in the Catholic church, he chaired
committees that focused on the concerns of Hispanics in the United
States and Latin America, and he was a synod father for the Special
Assembly for America of the Synod of Bishops; he also tirelessly
advocated for the rights of immigrants and strove to promote unity
along the border between Mexico and the U.S.; during his years in
the ministry, he faithfully practiced his motto of "Haz todo con
amor," which means "Let all that you do be done in love"; and
WHEREAS, Though it is impossible to gauge the full effect of
one person's life, some individuals leave their unmistakable mark
on the world as they move through it, and Raymundo Peña's record of
good works will continue to resonate for years to come; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory
of the Most Reverend Raymundo J. Peña and extend heartfelt sympathy
to his loved ones and friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the Catholic Archives of Texas and that when the Texas
House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
the Most Reverend Raymundo Peña.
Lucio III
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 57 was unanimously adopted by a rising
vote of the House on October 14, 2021.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House