HR0300 LRB096 12446 KXB 25417 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to congratulate the pastor and
4 parishioners of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Aurora on
5 the 100th anniversary of the parish; and
 
6     WHEREAS, In February of 1909 a petition was presented to
7 Right Reverend Peter J. Muldoon, the 1st Bishop of the Rockford
8 Diocese requesting the establishment of a new parish in the
9 southeastern section of Aurora; and
 
10     WHEREAS, After permission was received, Father Leion
11 Linden was appointed pastor of the new parish; he began his
12 service on April 26, 1909, the feast of Our Lady of Good
13 Counsel; and
 
14     WHEREAS, By the end of September of 1909 a new building was
15 erected, with a seating capacity of 380; Bishop Muldoon led a
16 procession to the new structure and blessed the building; a
17 cornerstone was laid with many items from the time period, and
18 has laid unopened until this year; and
 
19     WHEREAS, In 1910 two Dominican sisters opened Our Lady of
20 Good Counsel School; in 1911 the first rectory was built and is
21 today the convent; and in 1924 the current rectory was built;

 

 

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1 and
 
2     WHEREAS, In 1925 the school was expanded and portable
3 classrooms were added; and in 1935 the Good Counsel Credit
4 Union was organized; and
 
5     WHEREAS, After the passing of Father Linden in 1943,
6 Reverend Herman Mellinger came to serve the parish and oversee
7 the building of the current church; Father Sylvester Eye came
8 to Our Lady of Good Counsel in 1960 and oversaw the building of
9 the new school; and
10     WHEREAS, Later pastors included Father Robert Jackson, who
11 moved the old bell to the new church; Father Edward Gillespie
12 served until his retirement in 2001; Father Richard Russo
13 served from 2001 until 2002; Father Dean Russell served the
14 parish until 2006; and current pastor Father David Engbarth
15 began serving in July of 2006; therefore, be it
 
16     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
17 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
18 congratulate Father David Engbarth and the parishioners of Our
19 Lady of Good Counsel on their centennial celebration; and be it
20 further
 
21     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
22 presented to Father Engbarth and the parishioners of Our Lady

 

 

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1 of Good Counsel as a symbol of our respect.