HR1284 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1284 LRB096 22403 KXB 41553 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate the pastor and parishioners at St. Catherine Laboure Parish in Glenview as they celebrate the golden anniversary of the church in 2010; and

WHEREAS, While celebrating his 25th anniversary of ordination in Europe, Father William Buckley received a letter from Msgr. Casey, the Vicar General, that Cardinal Meyer wanted him to build a parish in the western Glenview area; it was on this day that Father Buckley and his three traveling companions visited the shrine of St. Catherine Laboure and knelt at the chair where the Blessed Mother sat when she appeared to St. Catherine Laboure; Father Buckley was so impressed with the shrine that upon leaving, he announced that St. Catherine Laboure would be the name of the new parish; and

WHEREAS, Upon returning home, Father Buckley was greeted by Father Dussman and Father Ryan, from Our Lady of Perpetual Help, who gave Father a place to live; the Superintendent of Public Schools, then Dr. Springman, arranged for Father Buckley to rent the Junior High School gym as a temporary place to say Mass and hold services; and

WHEREAS, By October 1960, a Ladies' Guild and Holy Name Society had been formed and plans were underway for a combination church-school facility; on April 23, 1961, ground was broken for a church-school structure; the cornerstone was laid on August 26, 1961; Mass was celebrated in the new church quarters on Christmas Eve, 1961 and the school was opened on January 3, 1962; and

WHEREAS, Cardinal Meyer dedicated the new $750,000 parish building on April 8, 1962; Father Burns was the first associate pastor, followed by Father Paul Burke, Father James Ouletta, Father William Barry, Father Richard Welc, Father Joseph Altman, and Father Walter DeRoeck; and

WHEREAS, In 1965, a building at 3360 Thornwood Avenue was purchased for use as a convent; on June 4, 1968, John Cardinal Cody approved plans for the erection of a permanent church and groundbreaking took place on June 9, 1968; the church was opened officially on October 3, 1969, and dedicated on December 14, 1969 by Cardinal Cody; in 1970, permission was granted for construction of the 4-bedroom rectory; and

WHEREAS, In 1994, Marian Hall was constructed, the existing Father Buckley Hall was renovated, and new meeting rooms were created for parish use; on the Feast of Christ the King, November 26, 1995, the Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel was dedicated and opened; in 1998, the church and chapel were renovated and the Pro-Life Shrine was built; Francis Cardinal George joined in the celebration, dedicating, and blessing the church, chapel, and shrine on September 11, 1999; the Early Childhood Development Center was completed and opened in the fall of 2001; and

WHEREAS, The 50th anniversary will be celebrated with special mass services, a dinner dance, a brunch, and a special time of sharing; and

WHEREAS, The parish has 1300 registered parishioners, 325 school children from pre-school to 8th grade; the current pastor is Father P. Maina Waithaka, assisted by Associate Pastor Father Alfredo Salera, and weekend Associate Father Joseph O'Brien; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the pastor and parishioners of St. Catherine Laboure Parish and wish them continued success for years to come; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Father P. Maina Waithaka as a symbol of our respect and esteem.