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

89(R) SR 414 - Enrolled version - Bill Text

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

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.

________________________________

Secretary of the Senate

________________________________

Member, Texas Senate