HR1241 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1241 LRB094 20321 HSS 58372 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the State of Illinois are pleased to congratulate Reverend William G. Kenneally on the occasion of his retirement; and

WHEREAS, Fr. Kenneally has been a leader with St. Gertrude parish and in the entire Edgewater community for over 20 years; and

WHEREAS, He has been a leader and staunch supporter of ECRA (Edgewater Community Religious Association); when the pillars at Emanuel Congregation and Edgewater Presbyterian retired, Fr. Bill was left as the cleric with highest standing to keep things going, especially for the annual Thanksgiving Service and donation drive for Care for Real; and

WHEREAS, Opening the doors of the parish to various neighborhood groups has always been a priority for Fr. Kenneally; these groups include the Dare to Care gang prevention program, the Ismaili youth, Centro Romero (ESL) classes, the Cambodian basketball program, Alternatives, INC.'s summer camp, the Nigerian Catholics of Chicago, the Raven Theater, and many other groups that used the church's space for rehearsals; and

WHEREAS, He guided St. Gertrude into membership with the Organization of the NorthEast, where he has offered low-key but consistent and essential support to various issues including the effort to return to the Buddhist community their land on Argyle Street, standing up for the temporary shelter at Ebenezer Lutheran, and most significantly, as an active participant in the formation of United Power for Action and Justice; and

WHEREAS, Because of Fr, Kenneally's stature, St. Gertrude was the logical choice for the memorial service immediately following the tragedy of September 11, 2001; and

WHEREAS, Fr. Kenneally has consistently supported Northside Catholic Academy (NCA), a regional Catholic school serving the North side of Chicago; NCA brought together the people of seven parishes on the North side (St. Jerome, St. Ignatius, St. Gertrude, St. Ita, St. Gregory, St. Timothy, and St. Henry); as one might expect, bringing people together builds and benefits the community like no other exercise; he has helped NCA do just that; and

WHEREAS, As Fr. Kenneally leaves St. Gertrude parish, it is certain that he will continue to be a leader in the community; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Fr. William G. Kenneally on the occasion of his retirement from his position at St. Gertrude parish, and we thank him for his many years of service to the Edgewater community and his dedication to helping his fellow citizens; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to him as an expression of our esteem and with best wishes for all of his future endeavors.