TITLE: Recognizing April 16, 2025, as St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church Day.

SUMMARY: Recognizing April 16, 2025, as St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church Day.

FULL TEXT:
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 Men ndez 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 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.