HR0300 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0300 LRB096 12446 KXB 25417 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate the pastor and parishioners of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Aurora on the 100th anniversary of the parish; and

WHEREAS, In February of 1909 a petition was presented to Right Reverend Peter J. Muldoon, the 1st Bishop of the Rockford Diocese requesting the establishment of a new parish in the southeastern section of Aurora; and

WHEREAS, After permission was received, Father Leion Linden was appointed pastor of the new parish; he began his service on April 26, 1909, the feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel; and

WHEREAS, By the end of September of 1909 a new building was erected, with a seating capacity of 380; Bishop Muldoon led a procession to the new structure and blessed the building; a cornerstone was laid with many items from the time period, and has laid unopened until this year; and

WHEREAS, In 1910 two Dominican sisters opened Our Lady of Good Counsel School; in 1911 the first rectory was built and is today the convent; and in 1924 the current rectory was built; and

WHEREAS, In 1925 the school was expanded and portable classrooms were added; and in 1935 the Good Counsel Credit Union was organized; and

WHEREAS, After the passing of Father Linden in 1943, Reverend Herman Mellinger came to serve the parish and oversee the building of the current church; Father Sylvester Eye came to Our Lady of Good Counsel in 1960 and oversaw the building of the new school; and

WHEREAS, Later pastors included Father Robert Jackson, who moved the old bell to the new church; Father Edward Gillespie served until his retirement in 2001; Father Richard Russo served from 2001 until 2002; Father Dean Russell served the parish until 2006; and current pastor Father David Engbarth began serving in July of 2006; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Father David Engbarth and the parishioners of Our Lady of Good Counsel on their centennial celebration; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Father Engbarth and the parishioners of Our Lady of Good Counsel as a symbol of our respect.