TITLE: Recognizing the Society of Mary on the occasion of its 200th anniversary.

SUMMARY: Recognizing the Society of Mary on the occasion of its 200th anniversary.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Society of Mary, a religious movement with a long history in San Antonio, is celebrating 200 years of ministry and service in 2017; and WHEREAS, The society traces its origins to France at the turn of the 19th century, when William Joseph Chaminade, a diocesan priest who survived the persecution of Catholics during the French Revolution, began forming small faith communities known as sodalities;Father Chaminade and a group of sodalists joined together to establish the Society of Mary on October 2, 1817, and pledged to carry out Mary's apostolic mission throughout the world; and WHEREAS, The Marianists spread across and beyond Europe before arriving in the United States in 1849; the following year, they founded St. Mary's School for Boys in Dayton, Ohio, which would later become the University of Dayton; the organization has remained deeply committed to education, and its members have built numerous other Marianist schools in the United States, including St. Mary's University and Central Catholic High School in San Antonio; and WHEREAS, The four United States Marianist provinces were consolidated in 2002 to create the Marianist Province of the United States; today, the province is composed of approximately 300 Marianist brothers and priests and sponsors or cosponsors 18 secondary schools, 3 universities, 4 retreat centers, 6 parishes, and a variety of other ministries; and WHEREAS, For two centuries, the followers of the Society of Mary have committed themselves wholeheartedly to sharing their faith and uplifting others, and it is indeed fitting to recognize the profoundly significant mark that they have made in the lives of countless Texans; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th Legislature, hereby commemorate the bicentennial of the Society of Mary and commend those Marianists who have served the people of Texas with compassion and dedication; and, be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the society as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate. Men ndez President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on March 27, 2017.