SR0332 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0332 LRB104 13642 LAW 26283 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to congratulate Father Michael Louis Pfleger on the occasion of celebrating the 50th anniversary of his ordination as a priest; and

WHEREAS, Father Pfleger received his Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Loyola University, his Master of Divinity from the University of St. Mary of the Lake, and an honorary Doctor of Divinity from North Park Theological Seminary; he has also completed post-graduate studies at Mundelein College and the Catholic Theological Union; and

WHEREAS, Father Pfleger has lived and ministered in the African American community on both Chicago's West and South Sides since 1968; he also worked in a Native American community in Oklahoma for two summers, and he completed his seminary internship as a chaplain at Cook County Jail and Precious Blood Catholic Church, both in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Father Pfleger became an ordained priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago on May 14, 1975; at the age of 31, he became the youngest full pastor in the diocese when he was appointed as pastor of Saint Sabina Church in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood of Chicago in 1981; and

WHEREAS, Father Pfleger has led an active and extensive ministry, seeking to break down the walls of racism and denominationalism by building unity among all people through a foundation based on truth and the tenets of his faith; he has been involved in many issues, such as campaigns against racism, the sale of drug paraphernalia, ads and billboards that target children with alcohol and tobacco, and negative music that glorifies violence and degrades women; in the process, he has been recognized by People, Time, Ebony, Newsweek, the Chicago Tribune, The New York Times, and the Los Angeles Times, and he has been profiled on 60 Minutes and The Larry King Show; and

WHEREAS, Father Pfleger has remained committed to serving the Saint Sabina Parish and the surrounding community through founding the Employment Resource Center, the Ark Youth Center, the Saint Sabina Social Service Center, the Thea Bowman Spiritual Advance Center, the Samaritan House for the Homeless, the Saint Sabina 80-unit Elders Village, and the Beloved Community, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, Father Pfleger has been the recipient of several honors, including being inducted into the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia and receiving the Keeper of the Dream Award from the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Thurgood Marshall Award from the National Black Prosecutors Association, the Beautiful Are Their Feet Award at the 2009 Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Office of Racial Justice of the Archdiocese of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Father Pfleger, amidst celebrations for his 50th anniversary, has continue to serve the Saint Sabina Parish and the community by hosting a gun turn-in event, a carnival, and a food giveaway; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Father Michael Louis Pfleger on the 50th anniversary of his ordination as a priest, and we wish him continued success in his ministry and advocacy; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Father Pfleger as an expression of our esteem and respect.