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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, Catherine Mary Norris, Sister Katie as she is 
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known to all, was born in Chicago and is the second oldest in a 
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faithful family of eight children; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Sister Katie was born into a family that was used 
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to service to the public, with two grandfathers who served on 
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Chicago's City Council and who went on to serve the City of 
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Chicago in other important capacities; and
 

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    WHEREAS, It has been said of Sister Katie that she was 
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unique in her giving spirit even as a young child, and she was 
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thought of as "someone to turn to" among the other children in 
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her family and also by others in her neighborhood of Beverly, a 
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very surprising quality for a young child; and
 

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    WHEREAS, When it was time for Sister Katie to further her 
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education, she left Chicago and attended the Sisters of Charity 
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Novitiate, Wayne State University, and received her Masters of 
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Social Work from Fordham University; and
 

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    WHEREAS, In 1985, Sister Katie continued her life of giving 
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by returning to Chicago, where she became a social worker for 
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the St. Vincent dePaul Center, continuing in true earnest to 
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give to those who needed help the most, including the children 
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of the "working poor" and their families, seniors, and the 
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homeless; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Sister Katie also was responsible for overseeing 
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the planning and construction of the new St. Vincent dePaul 
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facility so that those in need would be better served, and at 
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the same time continued to work tirelessly to grow the number 
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of St. Vincent's donors, volunteers, and friends; and
 

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    WHEREAS, In Sister Katie's life there has never been a 
 


 






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request for help that has gone unanswered as Sister Katie has 
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continued her tradition from childhood of being that "someone 
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to turn to"; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Sister Katie continues her good works and has 
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instilled the Mission and Values of the Daughters of Charity 
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into everyday life at both the St. Vincent dePaul Center and 
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Marillac; she became the Director and CEO of both recently; and
 

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    WHEREAS, In 2005, Sister Katie was recognized by the 
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Concern organization with its Bridgid Award; Concern was 
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founded in Ireland to serve those who were afflicted by the 
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potato famine, and they now recognize with their Bridgid Award 
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those individuals who show extraordinary care and effort in the 
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Concern tradition to help those in poverty with food, job 
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assistance, and child care; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Also in 2005, Sister Katie received the Cardinal 
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Bernadine Mundelein Seminary "For Those Who Serve" award for 
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her "life of service to the Church" and her "tireless promotion 
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of the Catholic faith"; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Sister Katie has been chosen to continue her good 
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works in Evansville, Indiana, and we are sad that we will no 
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longer have this wonderful champion here in the State of 
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Illinois; and
 

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    WHEREAS, It can be said that Sister Katie has truly, 
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selflessly made a life of helping people in Chicago through the 
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"rough times"; therefore, be it
 

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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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we extend our heartfelt thanks to Sister Katie Norris for her 
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unending compassion and help for the needy citizens of Chicago, 
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and we wish her the very best in her future good works; and be 
 


 






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it further
 

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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Sister Catherine Mary Norris as an expression of 
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our esteem.