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91_HR0811
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1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, St. Paul the Apostle parish was canonically
3 established in Joliet, Illinois, on September 21, 1950;
4 Father Gordon Michels was the first pastor named to the new
5 parish; and
6 WHEREAS, The church started with 250 families and today
7 there are approximately 1800 families; and
8 WHEREAS, The first mass was held on October 13, 1950, in
9 the foyer of Pershing School; in August of 1951 the new one
10 story building was dedicated, with the basement hall being
11 used for services; four classrooms on the main level taught
12 180 students in six grades; today over 400 students attend
13 classes in grades pre-school to eight, with 220 students in
14 religious education classes; and
15 WHEREAS, In 1953 the rectory was built; in 1954 a second
16 story was added on the school; in 1956 a convent was built;
17 in 1960 another addition was added to the school; in 1967 the
18 church was completed; and in 1995 the Parish Center opened;
19 and
20 WHEREAS, The pastors that have served St. Paul the
21 Apostle parish include: Father Joseph Burns, Father Richard
22 Best, Father Joseph Tapella, and the current pastor, Father
23 James Dougherty; and
24 WHEREAS, St. Paul the Apostle parish has many
25 organizations to serve its members, including the Parish
26 Council, the Youth Ministry, the Council of Catholic Women,
27 the Knights of Columbus, the Home and School Association, and
28 the Athletic Association; and
29 WHEREAS, The parish spreads the gospel through the
30 collection of food for the HELP food pantry; the parishoners
31 cook and serve food at the Daybreak Shelter once a month; the
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1 church supports the Good Shepherd Mission in Kentucky; the
2 priests celebrate mass and hold communion services in the
3 Deerbrook Nursing Home; and the church supports other
4 charities through its weekly offerings; and
5 WHEREAS, On September 11, 1999, the church began a year
6 of 50th anniversary celebrations; the celebrations will end
7 on September 23, 2000, with a closing mass celebrated by
8 Bishop Joseph Imesch and a parish picnic; therefore, be it
9 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
10 NINETY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
11 we congratulate the people of St. Paul the Apostle parish in
12 Joliet on the occasion of celebrating fifty years of ministry
13 in Joliet; and be it further
14 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
15 presented to Father James Dougherty on behalf of his parish.