| 2 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 3 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 5 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 6 | | |
|---|
| 6 | 7 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
|---|
| 7 | 8 | | WHEREAS, Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of the Diocese of Austin will |
|---|
| 8 | 9 | | be installed as the ninth archbishop of Galveston-Houston on |
|---|
| 9 | 10 | | March 25, 2025; and |
|---|
| 10 | 11 | | WHEREAS, Appointed to his current position in 2010, Bishop |
|---|
| 11 | 12 | | Vásquez serves as a consultant to the United States Conference of |
|---|
| 12 | 13 | | Catholic Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities and as lead |
|---|
| 13 | 14 | | bishop for Region X for the Fifth National Encuentro of |
|---|
| 14 | 15 | | Hispanic/Latino Ministry; he previously served the USCCB in a |
|---|
| 15 | 16 | | number of roles, including as chair of the Committee on Migration |
|---|
| 16 | 17 | | and as a member of the Administrative Committee and the Committee |
|---|
| 17 | 18 | | for Religious Liberty; in addition, he was a consultant for the |
|---|
| 18 | 19 | | Committees on International Justice and Peace and on Domestic |
|---|
| 19 | 20 | | Justice and Human Development, as well as for the Subcommittee on |
|---|
| 20 | 21 | | Hispanic Affairs and Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism; he further |
|---|
| 21 | 22 | | served on the boards of Catholic Relief Services and the Catholic |
|---|
| 22 | 23 | | Legal Immigration Network; and |
|---|
| 23 | 24 | | WHEREAS, Bishop Vásquez was installed as auxiliary bishop of |
|---|
| 24 | 25 | | the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in 2002, becoming the nation's |
|---|
| 25 | 26 | | youngest active bishop; during his tenure, he served as the vicar |
|---|
| 26 | 27 | | general/chancellor, overseeing administrative operations of the |
|---|
| 27 | 28 | | archdiocese, which is the largest in the state and the 11th largest |
|---|
| 28 | 29 | | in the country; he was also episcopal vicar for Hispanics and the |
|---|
| 29 | 30 | | liaison for youth; and |
|---|
| 30 | 31 | | WHEREAS, A Stamford native, Bishop Vásquez attended Stamford |
|---|
| 31 | 32 | | and Abilene public schools; he studied theology at the University |
|---|
| 32 | 33 | | of St. Thomas in Houston and continued his education in Rome at the |
|---|
| 33 | 34 | | Gregorian University, North American College; ordained a priest for |
|---|
| 34 | 35 | | the Diocese of San Angelo in 1984, he served as associate pastor of |
|---|
| 35 | 36 | | St. Joseph Parish in Odessa, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Fort |
|---|
| 36 | 37 | | Stockton, and pastor of St. Joseph Parish in San Angelo; and |
|---|
| 37 | 38 | | WHEREAS, Over the course of 15 years, Bishop Vásquez has |
|---|
| 38 | 39 | | greatly benefited the Austin Diocese through his wisdom, |
|---|
| 39 | 40 | | compassion, and unwavering devotion, and his bicultural approach to |
|---|
| 40 | 41 | | spiritual leadership will make an even wider impact in the faith |
|---|
| 41 | 42 | | community as he takes on his new role; now, therefore, be it |
|---|
| 42 | 43 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
|---|
| 43 | 44 | | Legislature hereby congratulate Bishop Joe S. Vásquez on his |
|---|
| 44 | 45 | | installation as archbishop of Galveston-Houston and honor him for |
|---|
| 45 | 46 | | his many years of service to the Diocese of Austin; and, be it |
|---|
| 46 | 47 | | further |
|---|
| 47 | 48 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|---|
| 48 | 49 | | prepared for Bishop Vásquez as an expression of high regard by the |
|---|
| 49 | 50 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
|---|