Texas HR 462: Commemorating the 20th anniversary of Greater Vision Church in Houston.

Bill Text

89(R) HR 462 - Enrolled version - Bill Text

  

  

  
 H.R. No. 462

  

  

   

 R E S O L U T I O N

   

        WHEREAS, Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of the Diocese of Austin will 

  

 be installed as the ninth archbishop of Galveston-Houston on 

  

 March 25, 2025; and

  

        WHEREAS, Appointed to his current position in 2010, Bishop 

  

 Vásquez serves as a consultant to the United States Conference of 

  

 Catholic Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities and as lead 

  

 bishop for Region X for the Fifth National Encuentro of 

  

 Hispanic/Latino Ministry; he previously served the USCCB in a 

  

 number of roles, including as chair of the Committee on Migration 

  

 and as a member of the Administrative Committee and the Committee 

  

 for Religious Liberty; in addition, he was a consultant for the 

  

 Committees on International Justice and Peace and on Domestic 

  

 Justice and Human Development, as well as for the Subcommittee on 

  

 Hispanic Affairs and Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism; he further 

  

 served on the boards of Catholic Relief Services and the Catholic 

  

 Legal Immigration Network; and

  

        WHEREAS, Bishop Vásquez was installed as auxiliary bishop of 

  

 the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in 2002, becoming the nation's 

  

 youngest active bishop; during his tenure, he served as the vicar 

  

 general/chancellor, overseeing administrative operations of the 

  

 archdiocese, which is the largest in the state and the 11th largest 

  

 in the country; he was also episcopal vicar for Hispanics and the 

  

 liaison for youth; and

  

        WHEREAS, A Stamford native, Bishop Vásquez attended Stamford 

  

 and Abilene public schools; he studied theology at the University 

  

 of St. Thomas in Houston and continued his education in Rome at the 

  

 Gregorian University, North American College; ordained a priest for 

  

 the Diocese of San Angelo in 1984, he served as associate pastor of 

  

 St. Joseph Parish in Odessa, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Fort 

  

 Stockton, and pastor of St. Joseph Parish in San Angelo; and

  

        WHEREAS, Over the course of 15 years, Bishop Vásquez has 

  

 greatly benefited the Austin Diocese through his wisdom, 

  

 compassion, and unwavering devotion, and his bicultural approach to 

  

 spiritual leadership will make an even wider impact in the faith 

  

 community as he takes on his new role; now, therefore, be it

  

        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas 

  

 Legislature hereby congratulate Bishop Joe S. Vásquez on his 

  

 installation as archbishop of Galveston-Houston and honor him for 

  

 his many years of service to the Diocese of Austin; and, be it 

  

 further

  

        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 

  

 prepared for Bishop Vásquez as an expression of high regard by the 

   

 Texas House of Representatives.

  

   

 Hinojosa

   

   

 ______________________________

   

 Speaker of the House     

  

   

        I certify that H.R. No. 462 was adopted by the House on March 

   

 31, 2025, by a non-record vote.

   

   

 ______________________________

   

 Chief Clerk of the House