093_HR0402
LRB093 12153 HSS 17197 r
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of House of Representatives of the
3 State of Illinois wish to congratulate Fr. Thomas J. Purtell
4 on the occasion of his retirement as the Pastor of Saint John
5 Fisher Parish in Chicago; and
6 WHEREAS, Fr. Purtell is the son of the late John and
7 Betty Purtell who resided on the northwest side of the City
8 of Chicago, where they raised four children and were members
9 of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church; and
10 WHEREAS, Fr. Purtell was ordained in 1961 at the St. Mary
11 of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein and then served six years
12 at St. Joseph Parish in Homewood, six years at Our Lady of
13 Lourdes Parish on the west side of Chicago, six years at St.
14 Benedict's Parish in Blue Island, and reached his home at
15 Saint John Fisher Parish in 1979; and
16 WHEREAS, Fr. Purtell was welcomed into St. John Fisher
17 Parish in 1979 as Associate Pastor by Monsignor Francis J.
18 McElligott and was named Pastor in 1984; and
19 WHEREAS, Fr. Purtell has touched the lives of thousands
20 of individuals and families of St. John Fisher Parish through
21 his tireless works in the community; and
22 WHEREAS, The parishioners of St. John Fisher as well as
23 the entire Southwest community will always be grateful for
24 his love, faith, friendship, and leadership over the last 24
25 years; therefore, be it
26 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
27 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
28 we congratulate Fr. Thomas J. Purtell on the occasion of his
29 retirement as the Pastor of St. John Fisher Parish, and we
30 commend him for his extraordinary courage and dedication, and
31 for his 42 years of distinctive service; and be it further
-2- LRB093 12153 HSS 17197 r
1 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2 presented to Fr. Thomas J. Purtell as an expression of our
3 profound respect and esteem and with our sincere wishes for
4 many happy years of retirement.