HR0968 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0968 LRB097 20873 GRL 68693 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Father Michael Goergen on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his ordination as a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Fr. Michael Goergen was born on June 16, 1936; his parents are Virginia (Rogers) and Michael A. Goergen; he has 7 siblings, Rosanne, Robert, Chuck (deceased), Tim, Georgine, Troy, and Joel (deceased); and

WHEREAS, At an early age, Fr. Michael Goergen heard "God's Call"; for 18 years, he attended the St. John Bosco parish; Fr. Don Cunningham, his parish priest at St. John Bosco, made a deal with him to enter Quigley High School for his freshman year and to transfer out if it "didn't fit"; Fr. Goergen chose to stay at Quigley; during his 5th year at Quigley, he and his family moved to LaGrange Highland, where he remained until he was ordained; the family subsequently settled in Darien; after graduation, he entered St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein; while in seminary, he was employed at R.R. Donnelly in the bindery; and

WHEREAS, Fr. Michael Goergen was ordained as a priest on April 28, 1962; his first appointment after ordination was at St. Eulalia in Maywood, where he became an avid handball player; during this time, he was a member of the firefighter engine no. 42 and 60 handball teams; during the 1960s, his team took 1st place at the Mercy Boys Home handball tournament 3 times; and

WHEREAS, After his tenure at St. Eulalia, Fr. Michael Goergen was transferred to Queen of Saints, where he served for 7 years; he subsequently served at Queen of the Universe for 6 years and at St. Cristina's for 2 years; in 1982, he became Pastor of the congregation at St. Nicholas of Tolentine; and

WHEREAS, After taking a 6 month sabbatical to Notre Dame in 1994, Fr. Michael Goergen began serving at St. Robert Bellarmine, which became his new home for the next 12 years; in 2006, he retired to St. Bartholomew, where he continued his work of visiting children, comforting the sick, praying with the families who have lost a loved one, celebrating a wedding, anniversary, or baptism, using his woodworking skills on wood found around the rectory, or pulling weeds on the parish campus; and

WHEREAS, Fr. Michael Goergen enjoys golfing, vacationing in Door County in Wisconsin, and spending time with his nieces and nephew; and

WHEREAS, Fr. Michael Goergen serves as a model 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-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Father Michael Goergen on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his ordination as a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Fr. Michael Goergen as a symbol of our esteem and respect.