SR0051 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0051 LRB101 07901 ALS 52956 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of The Very Reverend Canon John Joseph Flattery of Danville, who passed away on January 17, 2019; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Canon Flattery was born in Danville to John and Hildegarde Faulstich Flattery on June 4, 1930; he attended St. Joseph Grade School in Danville; in 1943, after eighth grade graduation, he entered the classical prep school at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Worthington, Ohio; he graduated from high school in 1947; he received his bachelor's degree in philosophy and humanities in 1951; he received his teaching certificate from Illinois State University; On June 4, 1955, he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Peoria; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Canon Flattery taught history, social science, Latin, and Greek at Marquette High School in Ottawa from 1956 until 1960; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Canon Flattery entered the United States Air Force Chaplaincy, Presidential Commission, in August 1960; he was a member of the USAF Chaplain Board and served in the Office of the Command Chaplain, Headquarters Air Training Command; he served as Chief of Professional Division twice and as assistant command chaplain; he was Installation Chaplain at several air force bases across the world, including in Morocco, China, Turkey, the Philippines, and the United States; and

WHEREAS, In 1970, Reverend Canon Flattery earned a master's degree in educational psychology from the University of Illinois; he earned a second master's degree in divinity from the Pontificial College Josephinum in 1974; in January 1975, he received his doctorate in education from Boston University; after completion of his doctoral studies, he was assigned to the USAF Chaplain Board at Air University, where he conducted extensive studies and evaluations on religious education materials; he then published two editions of the Catholic Curriculum and Resource Guide for chaplains to use in their religious education programs; several other publications followed and were used for recruits to reflect on their values and goals as they entered the Air Force; and

WHEREAS, On August 15, 1971, Reverend Canon Flattery was appointed a Very Reverend Canon in perpetuum of the Cathedral of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist in Izmir Turkey by the Most Rev. John B. Boccella, Archbishop of Izmir; he received the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters and the Air Force Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster; he retired with the prestigious title of Colonel in 1988; and

WHEREAS, After his retirement from the Air Force, Reverend Canon Flattery joined the staff at St. Leo College in Florida; he then returned to the Peoria Diocese and served as pastor and vicar of the Danville Vicariate at Holy Family from 1990 until 1992; he was then called to be pastor at St. Matthew Church in Champaign from 1992 until 1994; he received Senior status in June 1995 and retired for a second time; he then conducted extensive research on the histories of the Catholic churches in Danville and published two books, Our Holy Family and Our Holy Family: It's Sacred Art; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Canon Flattery assisted area pastors on a regular basis and was active in the community; he was enthusiastic about education, especially history and the preservation of history; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of The Very Reverend Canon John Joseph Flattery and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Reverend Canon Flattery as an expression of our deepest sympathy.