SR0454 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0454 LRB096 14928 KXB 29817 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Bishop Louis Puscas, of Aurora, who passed away on October 3, 2009; and

WHEREAS, He was born September 13, 1915 in Aurora; Bishop Puscas studied for the Romanian Byzantine Church priesthood under the patronage of the Latin Rite Diocese of Rockford, studying for two years in Romania, two years in Rome, Italy, and two years at the Benedictine Seminary in Lisle; during his last year in the seminary, he was transferred to the care of the Latin Rite Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, He was ordained a priest on Ascension Thursday, May 14, 1942 at St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Munhall, Pennsylvania, by the Most Reverend Basil Tach, Bishop of the Ruthenian Byzantine Church of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Most Reverend John Mark Gannon, Archbishop of the Latin Rite Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania appointed Father Louis as Pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Farrell, Pennsylvania and of St. George Church in Erie, Pennsylvania; both churches belonged to the Romanian Byzantine Church and were under the care of the Latin Rite Diocese of Erie; and

WHEREAS, In 1960 Father Louis received permission from Rome to serve also in the Latin Rite; on May 23, 1960 Father Louis was transferred to Gannon College in Erie as a member of the staff and became Dean of Students and Athletic Director; on February 1, 1965, Father Louis, after serving twenty-three years in the Diocese of Erie, was granted permission to return to his home Diocese of Rockford for parish assignment; and

WHEREAS, He was appointed Pastor of St. George Church in Aurora, where he served 18 1/2 years, and was very instrumental in the erection and organization of St. George Church as it exists today; Father Louis was consecrated Bishop on June 26, 1983 at St. John the Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan by Archbishop of Rome, Italy, Secretary of the Sacred Congregation of Saints; Pope John Paul II of fond memory appointed Bishop Louis as the first Bishop of the newly created Romanian Byzantine Diocese of Canton, Ohio; He was retired on July 15, 1993; Emeritus Bishop Louis left Canton, Ohio on September 1, 1993 and retired to Aurora; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Emma (Terebesi) Puscas; his sisters, Sister Emily Puscas, O.S.F., and Mary (John) Kish; and by his brother, Victor Puscas; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Louis Puscas is survived by his sister-in-law, Barbara Puscas; his nephews, Stephen (Suzanne) Puscas, Michael (Colleen) Puscas, Louis (Cathy) Puscas, Victor (Elizabeth) Puscas, John Anthony Kish, and Edward Kish; his nieces, Mary (Richard) McCarthy and Julie (Gary) Feltes; and numerous grand nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Bishop Louis Puscas; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Bishop Louis Puscas as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.