HR1241 LRB094 20321 HSS 58372 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the
3 State of Illinois are pleased to congratulate Reverend William
4 G. Kenneally on the occasion of his retirement; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Fr. Kenneally has been a leader with St. Gertrude
6 parish and in the entire Edgewater community for over 20 years;
7 and
 
8 WHEREAS, He has been a leader and staunch supporter of ECRA
9 (Edgewater Community Religious Association); when the pillars
10 at Emanuel Congregation and Edgewater Presbyterian retired,
11 Fr. Bill was left as the cleric with highest standing to keep
12 things going, especially for the annual Thanksgiving Service
13 and donation drive for Care for Real; and
 
14     WHEREAS, Opening the doors of the parish to various
15 neighborhood groups has always been a priority for Fr.
16 Kenneally; these groups include the Dare to Care gang
17 prevention program, the Ismaili youth, Centro Romero (ESL)
18 classes, the Cambodian basketball program, Alternatives,
19 INC.'s summer camp, the Nigerian Catholics of Chicago, the
20 Raven Theater, and many other groups that used the church's
21 space for rehearsals; and
 
22     WHEREAS, He guided St. Gertrude into membership with the
23 Organization of the NorthEast, where he has offered low-key but
24 consistent and essential support to various issues including
25 the effort to return to the Buddhist community their land on
26 Argyle Street, standing up for the temporary shelter at
27 Ebenezer Lutheran, and most significantly, as an active
28 participant in the formation of United Power for Action and
29 Justice; and
 
30     WHEREAS, Because of Fr, Kenneally's stature, St. Gertrude

 

 

HR1241 - 2 - LRB094 20321 HSS 58372 r

1 was the logical choice for the memorial service immediately
2 following the tragedy of September 11, 2001; and
 
3     WHEREAS, Fr. Kenneally has consistently supported
4 Northside Catholic Academy (NCA), a regional Catholic school
5 serving the North side of Chicago; NCA brought together the
6 people of seven parishes on the North side (St. Jerome, St.
7 Ignatius, St. Gertrude, St. Ita, St. Gregory, St. Timothy, and
8 St. Henry); as one might expect, bringing people together
9 builds and benefits the community like no other exercise; he
10 has helped NCA do just that; and
 
11     WHEREAS, As Fr. Kenneally leaves St. Gertrude parish, it is
12 certain that he will continue to be a leader in the community;
13 therefore, be it
 
14     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
15 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
16 we congratulate Fr. William G. Kenneally on the occasion of his
17 retirement from his position at St. Gertrude parish, and we
18 thank him for his many years of service to the Edgewater
19 community and his dedication to helping his fellow citizens;
20 and be it further
 
21     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
22 presented to him as an expression of our esteem and with best
23 wishes for all of his future endeavors.