HR0291 LRB096 12431 KXB 25371 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to recognize the Boys' Town of
4 Italy international charity and the celebration of the 64th
5 anniversary of Boys' Town of Italy; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Boys' Town of Italy was realized by the late
7 founder, Monsignor John Patrick Carroll-Abbing, in 1945 and
8 incorporated in 1951; and
 
9     WHEREAS, John Patrick Carroll-Abbing was born on August 11,
10 1912, and went to Rome in 1930 to study for the priesthood,
11 where he resided until his passing in 2001; he served at the
12 Vatican until the end of World War II in Europe, when he was
13 given permission by Pope Pius XII to assist the refugee
14 population of Italy; and
 
15     WHEREAS, He began by starting what he termed "Shoeshine
16 Hotels" for the young street population of Rome; his uncritical
17 reception of the boys eventually softened their interior
18 dispositions toward each other and themselves; he fed and
19 clothed over 180,000 children, but primarily he taught them to
20 love; and
 
21     WHEREAS, His mission then became one of love, giving love

 

 

HR0291 - 2 - LRB096 12431 KXB 25371 r

1 and giving "a second chance in life" to the boys and girls of
2 Italy whose lives had been disrupted and disfigured, first by
3 the War, then by its aftermath, and eventually by multiple
4 natural disasters; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Boys' Town of Italy has been supported by American
6 charities for many years, aiding the many young people left
7 orphaned by war, famine, poverty, neglect, terrorism, and abuse
8 from across the globe; therefore, be it
 
9     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
10 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
11 thank the men and women involved in helping Boys' Town of Italy
12 and wish them continued success in their future endeavors
13 towards this noble cause; and be it further
 
14     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
15 presented to Boys' Town of Italy in Norridge as a symbol of our
16 respect.