| 1 | 1 | | 89R23885 AMB-D |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Dutton H.R. No. 882 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | WHEREAS, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Houston is |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | celebrating the 75th anniversary of its founding on June 28, 2025; |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | and |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | WHEREAS, The parish was established by decree of Bishop |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | Wendelin J. Nold on June 26, 1950, and five years later, its school |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | opened its doors to the community; under the leadership of Father |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | John Cummings, congregants initially met at Kashmere Gardens |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | Elementary School; and |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | WHEREAS, The church's current sanctuary was built in 1965 and |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | features a roof in the shape of a capuche, the pointed cowl worn by |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | St. Francis and other monks; the building survived flood damage |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | from Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 and from Hurricane Harvey in |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | 2017, the latter of which necessitated 19 months of renovations and |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | restorations; parishioners have also endured and overcome |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | hardships as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which ultimately |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | strengthened their faith and their resolve to continue serving |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | their neighbors; and |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | WHEREAS, Originally composed of Czech and other European |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | immigrants, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church is today a |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | predominantly African American congregation that also includes a |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | number of Filipino and Hispanic families; it is ably guided by |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | Father Martin Eke of the Missionary of St. Paul of Nigeria, and |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | parishioners are committed to upholding their motto "one family, |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | one love" by supporting a number of commendable programs that |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | foster fellowship and offer help to those in need; the parish |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | continues to be civically engaged in the Kashmere Gardens community |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | through such endeavors as hosting a mayoral debate in collaboration |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | with The Metropolitan Organization in 2023; and |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | WHEREAS, Countless Houston residents have looked to St. |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | Francis of Assisi Catholic Church for spiritual guidance over the |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | years, and it is a pleasure to join in honoring the church at this |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | special time in its rich history; now, therefore, be it |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | Legislature hereby commemorate the 75th anniversary of St. Francis |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | of Assisi Catholic Church in Houston and extend to its members |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | prepared for the church as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | House of Representatives. |
|---|