HR1364 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1364 LRB099 22529 GRL 49954 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate the congregation of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Piopolis on the occasion of the church's 175th anniversary in 2016; and

WHEREAS, The rich history of St. John The Baptist Catholic Church began in 1841, when 25 pioneers left Ersingen, Germany for the New World; they arrived in what is now Piopolis on August 21, 1841; in 1843, additional setters came from Germany, including Tobias Brummer, and the congregation's first Mass and Baptism were performed by Fr. Elisha Durbin in a log cabin; and

WHEREAS, In 1844, a 40-acre tract of land was bought by Cajetan Aydt and later deeded to Bishop William Quarters, the Catholic Bishop of Chicago; in 1846, the first log church was completed and St. John's first Mass was celebrated on Ash Wednesday; in 1860, a new frame church was completed and Bishop Juncker of Alton came for Confirmation; in 1864, the parish's rectory was completed and Fr. Edward Harriman began serving as Pastor; and

WHEREAS, In 1865, St. John's second resident pastor, Fr. Winterhalter, was installed and the Precious Blood Sisters of Burwell, Germany located their new convent at the church; in 1870, a two-story Motherhouse and school frame building was completed and nine nuns from Gurtwell, Germany arrived; in 1871, the third pastor, Fr. John Neuhaus, was installed; in 1876, Fr. John N. Enzilberger became the fourth resident pastor; and

WHEREAS, In 1877, 13 acres of church property were laid out into 50 lots to become a small village named Piopolis in honor of Pope Pius IX, who was celebrating his 50th year as Bishop; in 1880, the foundation was laid for a new church after the frame church was moved aside; in 1881, the cornerstore of the brick church was laid; the church was completed by the end of 1882 and was dedicated on October 1, 1884; and

WHEREAS, In 1892, a new rectory was built at St. John's; in 1902, Fr. Bernard Reusch was installed as the fifth resident pastor; in 1910, new altars were installed in the first brick church; in 1914, a new two-story sisters house was built on the grounds of the church's present day rectory; in 1924, the church's present school building was completed and dedicated by Bishop Henry Althoff; in 1927, Fr. Eckerman started the St. John's Annual Picnic; and

WHEREAS, On June 13, 1953, a severe storm damaged St. John's brick church, which had to be torn down and replaced; in 1954, the cornerstone of the second brick church was laid in March and construction was completed and the building's first Mass held on Christmas Day; in 1955, Fr. Eckerman became ill and was replaced with Fr. Edmund Schumacher as administrator; after Fr. Eckerman's death in 1962, Fr. Schumacher became the seventh pastor of the parish; in 1965, Fr. Schumacher passed away and Fr. Meinrad Dunn was assigned as the eighth pastor in October; in 1972, Fr. Dunn left the church and was succeeded by Fr. Albert Jerome; and

WHEREAS, In 1975, St. John's Parish Council was established, with various organizations being represented; in 1976, Fr. Jerome was transferred and Fr. James Van Oss was installed as the 10th pastor of the parish; in 1981, the Parish Council voted to redecorate the church and the Ministers of the Eucharist was created; on July 6, 1982, Fr. Emil Maziarz was installed as the 11th pastor; in 1983, Fr. Maziarz was assigned to the Chancery Office and Fr. Joseph A. Lawler became the 12th pastor of the church; and

WHEREAS, In 1991, St. John's celebrated the church's Sesquicentennial of the Parish with various activities including a photo directory, a history of the parish, a re-enactment of the arrival of the first immigrants to Piopolis, and other observances; in 1993, The Holy Name Shooting Match was held in October and a Mission was held in November; on April 19, 1996, a tornado hit the church, causing over $100,000 in damages; new roofs were placed on the garage, house, school, and one-half of the church; in 2002, an outdoor pavilion and new vesting cabinetry were installed; and

WHEREAS, St. John's hosted the Farm Blessing on April 26, 2007; on May 22, 2009, Fr. Slawomir Ptak of Poland became the church's Associate Pastor; following Fr. Joseph Lawler's retirement on July 12, 2011, Fr. Ptak became the 13th pastor of the parish; and

WHEREAS, The congregation of St. John's serve as models of hard work, integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the congregation of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on the occasion of the church's 175th anniversary and wish them continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the congregation of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church as a symbol of our esteem and respect.