Full Text of HR1151 97th General Assembly
HR1151 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 1 | | HOUSE RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of | 3 | | Representatives are pleased to congratulate Fr. Thomas Bernas | 4 | | for his 15 years of dedicated service at St. Richard Catholic | 5 | | Church in Chicago; and
| 6 | | WHEREAS, Thomas Bernas was born in Evergreen Park, in 1958; | 7 | | he attended St. Pancratius Grammar School and Quigley | 8 | | Preparatory Seminary South; after graduating from high school | 9 | | in 1976, he enrolled at the Loyola University of Chicago, where | 10 | | he earned his degree in 1980; and
| 11 | | WHEREAS, Thomas Bernas entered seminary in 1989 at the St. | 12 | | Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein; after his ordination in | 13 | | 1994 at Holy Name Cathedral by Cardinal Bernardin, he was | 14 | | assigned to St. Richard Catholic Church in 1997 as an | 15 | | administrator; his conscientious and tireless work for the | 16 | | parish resulted in his appointment as pastor in 1999; and
| 17 | | WHEREAS, During his tenure as pastor, Thomas Bernas devoted | 18 | | his time and energy to improving the community of St. Richard | 19 | | Catholic Church and the surrounding area; he overhauled the | 20 | | parish's finances, paying off its debt and keeping it | 21 | | debt-free; he completed several renovation projects initiated | 22 | | by his predecessor, including the re-painting of the church, |
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| 1 | | the replacement of the church's organ, and the installation of | 2 | | an elevator to facilitate handicapped access; he oversaw the | 3 | | construction of the St. Richard Parish Center and a gymnasium | 4 | | used by the school's children and numerous community groups; he | 5 | | also supervised a complete renovation of the priest's residence | 6 | | and was instrumental in the creation of a recent building | 7 | | renovation and floor plan reconfiguration; and
| 8 | | WHEREAS, Thomas Bernas has been an active member of his | 9 | | community life; every year, he has hosted the Archer Heights | 10 | | Civic Association Halloween Party for community children in the | 11 | | church hall and an annual blessing of Chicago firefighters, | 12 | | paramedics, and police officers; and
| 13 | | WHEREAS, After 15 years of service at St. Richard, Thomas | 14 | | Bernas will begin a new assignment at St. Rene Goupil Parish, | 15 | | where he will undoubtedly continue his wonderful work in | 16 | | service of his congregation and the community as a whole; | 17 | | therefore, be it
| 18 | | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE | 19 | | NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | 20 | | we congratulate Fr. Thomas Bernas for his 15 years of dedicated | 21 | | service at St. Richard Catholic Church and wish him continued | 22 | | success and happiness at St. Rene Goupil Parish; and be it | 23 | | further
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| 1 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 2 | | presented to Thomas Bernas as a symbol of our esteem and | 3 | | respect.
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