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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the 
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State of Illinois are pleased to congratulate Reverend William 
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G. Kenneally on the occasion of his retirement; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Fr. Kenneally has been a leader with St. Gertrude 
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parish and in the entire Edgewater community for over 20 years; 
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and
 
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WHEREAS, He has been a leader and staunch supporter of ECRA 
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(Edgewater Community Religious Association); when the pillars 
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at Emanuel Congregation and Edgewater Presbyterian retired, 
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Fr. Bill was left as the cleric with highest standing to keep 
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things going, especially for the annual Thanksgiving Service 
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and donation drive for Care for Real; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Opening the doors of the parish to various 
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neighborhood groups has always been a priority for Fr. 
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Kenneally; these groups include the Dare to Care gang 
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prevention program, the Ismaili youth, Centro Romero (ESL) 
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classes, the Cambodian basketball program, Alternatives, 
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INC.'s summer camp, the Nigerian Catholics of Chicago, the 
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Raven Theater, and many other groups that used the church's 
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space for rehearsals; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He guided St. Gertrude into membership with the 
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Organization of the NorthEast, where he has offered low-key but 
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consistent and essential support to various issues including 
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the effort to return to the Buddhist community their land on 
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Argyle Street, standing up for the temporary shelter at 
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Ebenezer Lutheran, and most significantly, as an active 
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participant in the formation of United Power for Action and 
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Justice; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Because of Fr, Kenneally's stature, St. Gertrude 
 


 






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was the logical choice for the memorial service immediately 
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following the tragedy of September 11, 2001; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Fr. Kenneally has consistently supported 
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Northside Catholic Academy (NCA), a regional Catholic school 
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serving the North side of Chicago; NCA brought together the 
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people of seven parishes on the North side (St. Jerome, St. 
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Ignatius, St. Gertrude, St. Ita, St. Gregory, St. Timothy, and 
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St. Henry); as one might expect, bringing people together 
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builds and benefits the community like no other exercise; he 
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has helped NCA do just that; and

 
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    WHEREAS, As Fr. Kenneally leaves St. Gertrude parish, it is 
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certain that he will continue to be a leader in the community; 
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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 congratulate Fr. William G. Kenneally on the occasion of his 
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retirement from his position at St. Gertrude parish, and we 
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thank him for his many years of service to the Edgewater 
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community and his dedication to helping his fellow citizens; 
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and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to him as an expression of our esteem and with best 
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wishes for all of his future endeavors.