Full Text of HR1302 93rd General Assembly
HR1302 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
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| HOUSE RESOLUTION
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| WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of | 3 |
| Representatives mourn the loss of Monsignor Ignatius | 4 |
| McDermott, who died on December 31, 2004; and
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| WHEREAS, Monsignor McDermott was born on July 31, 1909 on | 6 |
| Chicago's South Side and lived to the age of 95; and
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| WHEREAS, Monsignor McDermott, known as "Father Mac", was | 8 |
| ordained in 1936 after studying at the Quigley Preparatory | 9 |
| Seminary and Mundelein's St. Mary of the Lake Seminary; and
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| WHEREAS, While studying for the priesthood in 1930, Father | 11 |
| Mac worked at Arlington Park racetrack and began ministering to | 12 |
| the homeless and alcoholics who populated the area along his | 13 |
| commute known as "Skid Row"; and
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| WHEREAS, In 1946, Father Mac was named assistant director | 15 |
| for the Chicago Archdiocese's Catholic Charities; and
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| WHEREAS, He served as a parish priest and Chicago | 17 |
| Archdiocese administrator before co-founding the Haymarket | 18 |
| House at the age of 65; and
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| WHEREAS, The Haymarket Center was officially founded on New | 20 |
| Year's Eve in 1975 by Monsignor McDermott and Dr. James West, | 21 |
| who were long-time colleagues in the field of substance abuse; | 22 |
| and
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| WHEREAS, The Haymarket Center was initially housed in a | 24 |
| brick structure at 12 South Peoria Street, and became a haven | 25 |
| for alcoholics with no other treatment available for their | 26 |
| addiction; and
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| WHEREAS, Urban renewal forced two moves before a location |
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| was found in 1985 at the corner of West Washington Boulevard | 2 |
| and Sangamon Street; and
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| WHEREAS, The McDermott Foundation was formed soon after | 4 |
| this move to support the Haymarket Center's new location; the | 5 |
| Haymarket Center was renamed the McDermott Center, and more | 6 |
| than $10 million was raised during the ensuing decade to help | 7 |
| finance structural improvements to the building complex; and
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| WHEREAS, Monsignor McDermott died on the 29th anniversary | 9 |
| of the Haymarket Center, the institution he co-founded; and
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| WHEREAS, Father Mac's 68 years in the priesthood were spent | 11 |
| caring for people in need and helping people overcome their | 12 |
| addiction to alcohol; and
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| WHEREAS, The avid sports fan who loved his White Sox team | 14 |
| often used football, baseball, and basketball analogies in his | 15 |
| sermons; and
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| WHEREAS, Many remember the kind Irishman who helped them | 17 |
| through difficult times and was a friend to all; and
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| WHEREAS, Even in his final days, Father Mac thought of | 19 |
| others and continued to pray for his friends; and
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| WHEREAS, We remember the life of a great religious leader | 21 |
| and community servant; therefore, be it
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| RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE | 23 |
| NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we | 24 |
| mourn the passing of Monsignor Ignatius McDermott along with | 25 |
| all who knew and loved him; and be it further
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| RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 27 |
| presented to the Haymarket Center and the McDermott Foundation |
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| as a token of our deepest sympathy.
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