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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives wish to congratulate St. James the Apostle 
4Parish on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its founding; 
5and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, St. James, based in Glen Ellyn, was established in 
7June of 1965 by Bishop Martin D. McNamara; Father Thomas 
8Fleming was appointed the first Pastor and the first Mass was 
9celebrated  in the chapel of the Maryknoll Seminary on July 4, 
101965; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, Ground was broken for the church and school on 
12March 29, 1966; in September of 1966, St. James School opened 
13in temporary quarters, and, in 1967, the school and the church 
14were completed; the first Mass celebrated at the new church 
15took place on Easter Sunday, March 29, 1967; and
  
 
16    WHEREAS, Throughout the years, St. James has been under the 
17direction of Father James Lennon starting in 1971, Father Edwin 
18Joyce starting in 1978, and  Father John Sebahar starting in 
191990;  and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, It was under Father Sebahar's leadership that on 
21May 30, 1999, construction began for a new building, which was 
 
 
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1dedicated in October of 2000;  and
 
2    WHEREAS, Father John Ouper was appointed Pastor in 2001 and 
3Father David Hankus was appointed the current Pastor in 2013; 
4and
 
5    WHEREAS, The congregation has grown to over 1,800 families; 
6and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, An anniversary concert featuring members of the 
8St. James Music Ministry will be held at the church on May 17, 
92015, and on May 31, a celebration Mass and reception will be 
10held with Bishop R. Daniel Conlon of the Joliet Archdiocese; 
11therefore, be it
  
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
13NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
14congratulate St. James the Apostle Parish on its 50th 
15anniversary and we wish them many more wonderful years; and be 
16it further
  
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
18presented to the St. James the Apostle Parish as an expression 
19of our esteem and respect.