TITLE: Commemorating the 95th anniversary of Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church in Fort Worth.

SUMMARY: Commemorating the 95th anniversary of Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church in Fort Worth.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The members of Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church in Fort Worth are celebrating the 95th anniversary of their church's founding on January 19, 2025; and WHEREAS, In January 1929, Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church was established by Father Narcissus Denis of the Josephite Fathers; masses were initially held in a private residence, and parishioners eventually began gathering in a chapel that was converted from an old drugstore; later that year, a new facility was built, and by 1935, the parish had grown to a membership of 150; the church served as the first Catholic school for African American children in Fort Worth and as a community center for Black Catholics in the area, and in 1941 it opened the St. Veronica's mission in the city's Lake Como area; in 1952, Our Mother of Mercy moved to its permanent location on East Terrell Avenue; after serving for nearly eight decades, the Josephite Fathers were later succeeded by the Society of the Divine Word; and WHEREAS, Known as the only African American Catholic Church in Tarrant County and in the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth, Our Mother of Mercy is home to a multiethnic congregation, and it has produced leaders in a number of fields, both locally and nationally; moreover, it was designated as the principal church for the 2015-2016 Jubilee Year of Mercy, and over the years, its members have established a variety of commendable programs, including music, youth, bereavement, and guardian ministries, services for those who are homebound or ill, and the Society of St. Vincent DePaul, which provides emergency aid to the community; and WHEREAS, Countless Fort Worth residents have looked to Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church for spiritual guidance over the years, and it is a pleasure to join in honoring the parish at this special time in its rich history; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas Legislature hereby commemorate the 95th anniversary of Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church and extend to its members sincere best wishes for the future. Collier Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 81 was adopted by the House on March 13, 2025, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House