HR0785 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0785 LRB095 14070 GRL 39922 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, In June of 1957, the Archdiocese of Chicago announced that Reverend George J. Mulcahey had been appointed to organize a new parish in the Village of Wheeling; and

WHEREAS, Through the generosity of the Johnson family, the fledgling parish was provided with a temporary site at the Chevy Chase Country Club, where the first Mass was celebrated on August 4, 1957; and

WHEREAS, Reverend George J. Mulcahey was officially appointed the pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Parish on August 19, 1957; and

WHEREAS, In October of 1957, a twenty-four acre turkey farm and home on Dundee Road in Wheeling was purchased to become the future site of the new church and school; and

WHEREAS, The parish's first Mass celebrated in the new church was the Christmas Midnight Mass on December 24, 1958; and

WHEREAS, On May 3, 1959, the Right Reverend Monsignor Edward M. Burke celebrated the First Communion Mass for eighty children of the parish and presided at the blessing of the cornerstone and the dedication of the statue of St. Joseph the Worker that stands outside the church; and

WHEREAS, St. Joseph the Worker School opened on September 9, 1959, with an enrollment of 480 students in eight grades and a staff of four Sisters of Mercy and four lay teachers; and

WHEREAS, On September 20, 1959, Archbishop Albert C. Meyer officially dedicated the new building, which consisted of the church, the parish hall, and the school; and

WHEREAS, Reverend George Mulcahey retired in June of 1974 and was named Pastor Emeritus; he continued his work as a much loved spiritual leader, especially in his ministry to the sick; that same year, Reverend Donald Simpson was named as the new pastor; and

WHEREAS, The parish's boundaries included the Village of Lincolnshire; a Mission was established in 1975 and Masses were held at the Marriott Lincolnshire Resort; and

WHEREAS, In May of 1978, Reverend Robert (Mick) Egan, C.V.S., a 1965 graduate of St. Joseph the Worker School, celebrated his first Mass in his parish church; and

WHEREAS, In July of 1982, Reverend James O'Malley was named as pastor St. Joseph the Worker Parish; that same year, Reverend George Mulcahey celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination; and

WHEREAS, St. Joseph the Worker Parish established its first Parish Pastoral Council in 1993; and

WHEREAS, In July of 1994, Reverend James O'Malley was succeeded by Reverend Jacob Joerger, O.P., who was named administrator pending the appointment of the new pastor, Reverend Frederick L. Brandstrader, in November of that year; and

WHEREAS, On May 21, 1995, Reverend Ronald Lewandowski, a former religious education teacher and member of the parish, celebrated his first Mass in the church; and

WHEREAS, St. Joseph the Worker School closed its doors for the last time on June 7, 1996, having been an integral part of the spiritual and social life of the parish for almost forty years; and

WHEREAS, On January 7, 1997, the Adoration Chapel opened as a special place of visitation to the Blessed Sacrament; and

WHEREAS, On April 21, 2002, Deacon Peery Duderstadt celebrated his 20th anniversary as deacon at St. Joseph the Worker Parish; and

WHEREAS, On April 26, 2003, Deacon Steven Stecker celebrated his 5th anniversary as deacon at St. Joseph the Worker Parish; and

WHEREAS, In May of 2004, Reverend Steven Bauer, a graduate of St. Joseph the Worker School, was ordained to the priesthood and celebrated his first Mass in his parish church; and

WHEREAS, On October 10, 2004, Reverend Michael Joseph Thomas Bonner, S.V.D., was installed as pastor by Bishop Jerome Listecki, Vicar of Vicariate I; and

WHEREAS, Over the past fifty years, St. Joseph the Worker Parish has ministered to the spiritual needs of the English, Spanish, Polish, and Filipino members of the parish; and

WHEREAS, The parishioners of St. Joseph the Worker Parish have served the community through their own ministries, and in partnership with other governmental and civic organizations; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we commend the members of St. Joseph the Worker Parish for faithfully fulfilling their mission of providing spiritual guidance to its members; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we acknowledge the importance of the academic and religious instruction provided to the students of St. Joseph the Worker School; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we recognize the contributions made to the community by the ministries and individuals of St. Joseph the Worker Parish; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we congratulate the clergy, the teachers, and the members of St. Joseph the Worker Parish for their outstanding accomplishment in reaching this 50th anniversary.