SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 510
	WHEREAS, The Society of Mary, a religious movement with a
	long history in San Antonio, is celebrating 200 years of ministry
	and service in 2017; and
	WHEREAS, The society traces its origins to France at the
	turn of the 19th century, when William Joseph Chaminade, a
	diocesan priest who survived the persecution of Catholics during
	the French Revolution, began forming small faith communities
	known as sodalities; Father Chaminade and a group of sodalists
	joined together to establish the Society of Mary on October 2,
	1817, and pledged to carry out Mary's apostolic mission
	throughout the world; and
	WHEREAS, The Marianists spread across and beyond Europe
	before arriving in the United States in 1849; the following year,
	they founded St. Mary's School for Boys in Dayton, Ohio, which
	would later become the University of Dayton; the organization has
	remained deeply committed to education, and its members have
	built numerous other Marianist schools in the United States,
	including St. Mary's University and Central Catholic High School
	in San Antonio; and
	WHEREAS, The four United States Marianist provinces were
	consolidated in 2002 to create the Marianist Province of the
	United States; today, the province is composed of approximately
	300 Marianist brothers and priests and sponsors or cosponsors 18
	secondary schools, 3 universities, 4 retreat centers, 6 parishes,
	and a variety of other ministries; and
	WHEREAS, For two centuries, the followers of the Society of
	Mary have committed themselves wholeheartedly to sharing their
	faith and uplifting others, and it is indeed fitting to recognize
	the profoundly significant mark that they have made in the lives
	of countless Texans; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th
	Legislature, hereby commemorate the bicentennial of the Society
	of Mary and commend those Marianists who have served the people
	of Texas with compassion and dedication; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
	the society as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.
	Menéndez
		________________________________
		President of the Senate
		I hereby certify that the
		above Resolution was adopted by
		the Senate on March 27, 2017.
		________________________________
		Secretary of the Senate
		________________________________
		Member, Texas Senate