TITLE: In memory of Archbishop Patricio Flores of San Antonio.

SUMMARY: In memory of Archbishop Patricio Flores of San Antonio.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Archbishop Emeritus Patricio Fernandez Flores of San Antonio passed away on January 9, 2017, at the age of 87, leaving behind an exceptional record as a pioneering leader in the church and as a champion for social justice; and WHEREAS, Born on July 26, 1929, in Ganado to Patricio Flores and Trinidad Fernandez de Flores, Archbishop Flores grew up in Pearland; in his teens, he joined the fight for education equality by organizing community fund-raisers, which eventually helped secure the legal victory that allowed Mexican American children to attend the local public school; and WHEREAS, Ordained to the priesthood on May 26, 1956, Patricio Flores spent the early years of his career in Houston, where he served as assistant pastor of Holy Name Parish, as pastor of Guardian Angel Parish, and as pastor of St. Joseph-St. Stephen Parish; in 1970, he was consecrated as the first Mexican American bishop in the United States; eight years later, he began a brief tenure as prelate of the Diocese of El Paso, and in 1979 he was appointed archbishop of San Antonio; and WHEREAS, Presiding over the Archdiocese of San Antonio for more than two decades, Archbishop Flores dedicated much of his energies to issues affecting indigent women and children, the elderly, and the infirm, and he remained a fervent advocate for the rights of farmworkers; in 1987, he had the honor of welcoming Pope John Paul II to the San Antonio Archdiocese, where the pontiff celebrated a mass that was attended by some 330,000 people; and WHEREAS, A member of the Migration and Refugee Services Department of the U.S. Catholic Conference, Archbishop Flores also chaired the Church in Latin America Committee of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Texas Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; he took pride in his heritage and encouraged other Latinos to become agents of change in their communities; in 1986, he received the Hispanic Heritage Award for leadership; and WHEREAS, Profoundly devoted to his faith and to the cause of social justice, Archbishop Patricio Flores touched the lives of countless individuals in ways beyond measure, and his compassionate, selfless service to the world will be remembered far and wide with deepest appreciation; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Archbishop Patricio Fernandez Flores and extend deepest sympathy to all those who mourn his passing; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Archbishop Patricio Flores. Ar valo Bernal Cortez Gervin-Hawkins Larson Minjarez Uresti Straus Goldman Oliverson Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega Alonzo Gonz lez of El Paso Paddie Alvarado Gooden Parker Anchia Guerra Paul Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan Ar valo Hefner Phillips Ashby Hernandez Pickett Bailes Herrero Price Bell Hinojosa Raney Bernal Holland Raymond Biedermann Howard Reynolds Blanco Huberty Rinaldi Bohac Hunter Roberts Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burns Johnson of Harris Rose Burrows Kacal Sanford Button Keough Schaefer Cain King of Hemphill Schofield Canales King of Parker Schubert Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen Clardy Klick Sheffield Coleman Koop Shine Collier Krause Simmons Cook Kuempel Smithee Cortez Lambert Springer Cosper Landgraf Stephenson Craddick Lang Stickland Cyrier Larson Stucky Dale Laubenberg Swanson Darby Leach Thierry Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris Dean Lucio III Tinderholt Deshotel Martinez Turner Dukes Metcalf Uresti Dutton Meyer VanDeaver Elkins Miller Villalba Faircloth Minjarez Vo Fallon Moody Walle Farrar Morrison White Flynn Mu oz, Jr. Wilson Frank Murphy Workman Frullo Murr Wray Geren Neave Wu Gervin-Hawkins Nev rez Zedler Giddings Oliveira Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 101 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on January 17, 2017. Chief Clerk of the House