SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 414
WHEREAS, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church Day is being
celebrated at the State Capitol on April 16, 2025; and
WHEREAS, In 1949, Bishop Wendelin J. Nold of the Diocese of
Galveston embarked on a plan to buy property for the construction
of new parish churches; after identifying 35 Catholic families in
Houston's Sunnyside neighborhood, Bishop Nold asked Father Michael
J. Flaherty of Saint Nicholas Catholic Church to locate potential
sites in the area; in June 1951, negotiations began on a tract of
land on the southwest corner of what later became Cullen Boulevard
and Reed Road; and
WHEREAS, Construction on St. Francis Xavier was completed in
1952, with Father James Clark assigned to lead the church as its
first pastor; members later built a parish hall, which served as a
kindergarten, Sunday school classroom, and meeting space, and a
rectory was added in 1956; and
WHEREAS, Membership grew from 300 to 1,700 in the church's
first three years, necessitating the expansion of its parish hall
and catechetical center; plans to add a new building to the campus
were implemented by Father Elbert Harris, the church's first
African American pastor; the new hall was used for children's Pre-K
through grade 12 education and for parish events, and the old hall
became a senior citizen nutrition center; and
WHEREAS, A new church building was completed and dedicated
by Bishop John Morkovsky on June 19, 1975; it had a 500-seat
capacity, as well as a special chapel dedicated to the martyrs of
Uganda; in the 1990s, the old church building was renovated for use
as religious education classrooms, and it was renamed the Harris
Center in honor of Father Elbert Harris; further growth required
that the church change its address to 4600 Reed Road, and a new
Harris Center building and rectory were built shortly thereafter;
and
WHEREAS, This venerable religious institution has played a
vital role in the community, providing its members with myriad
opportunities for spiritual growth, fellowship, and outreach;
its 43 ministries include programs for parishioners of all ages,
as well as vital community service initiatives; and
WHEREAS, Countless Houston residents have looked to
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church for spiritual guidance
through the years, and it is a pleasure to join in honoring the
church's rich history; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th
Legislature, hereby recognize St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church
Day at the State Capitol on April 16, 2025, and extend a warm
welcome to the visiting delegation; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
prepared for the church as an expression of high regard from the
Texas Senate.
Miles
Alvarado Hagenbuch Menéndez Alvarado Hagenbuch Menéndez
Alvarado Hagenbuch Menéndez
Bettencourt Hall Middleton Bettencourt Hall Middleton
Bettencourt Hall Middleton
Birdwell Hancock Nichols Birdwell Hancock Nichols
Birdwell Hancock Nichols
Blanco Hinojosa of Hidalgo Parker Blanco Hinojosa of Hidalgo Parker
Blanco Hinojosa of Hidalgo Parker
Campbell Hinojosa of Nueces Paxton Campbell Hinojosa of Nueces Paxton
Campbell Hinojosa of Nueces Paxton
Cook Huffman Perry Cook Huffman Perry
Cook Huffman Perry
Creighton Hughes Schwertner Creighton Hughes Schwertner
Creighton Hughes Schwertner
Eckhardt Johnson Sparks Eckhardt Johnson Sparks
Eckhardt Johnson Sparks
Flores King West Flores King West
Flores King West
Gutierrez Kolkhorst Zaffirini Gutierrez Kolkhorst Zaffirini
Gutierrez Kolkhorst Zaffirini
Patrick, President of the Senate
________________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on April 16, 2025.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate
Alvarado Hagenbuch Menéndez
Bettencourt Hall Middleton
Birdwell Hancock Nichols
Blanco Hinojosa of Hidalgo Parker
Campbell Hinojosa of Nueces Paxton
Cook Huffman Perry
Creighton Hughes Schwertner
Eckhardt Johnson Sparks
Flores King West
Gutierrez Kolkhorst Zaffirini