HR0946 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0946 LRB103 43262 ECR 76546 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago on the occasion of their 130th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, The Franciscan Sisters of Chicago was originally founded as the Franciscan Sisters of Blessed Kunegunda in 1894 by Josephine Dudzik, also known as Sister Mary Theresa, with the purpose of ministering to the poor; at the 1970 Chapter Meeting of the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago, the order voted to change their name to the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago, hoping the new name would reflect the order's heritage with the city of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, The Franciscan Sisters of Chicago was the first religious congregation of women founded in the city of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, In 1898, the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago opened the first and oldest nursing home in Chicago, St. Joseph Home for the Aged and Crippled, and built their first motherhouse on the same site; these buildings not only housed the elderly and the novitiate for new incoming Sisters but were also used as sewing and vestment workshops where the Sisters would raise funds to support themselves and their ministries; St. Joseph Home continues to serve the elderly and, in 2006, a replacement community was built and named St. Joseph Village of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, In 1899, the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago opened St. Vincent's Orphan Asylum in Chicago, which was active until 1906 and cared for more than 500 children; and

WHEREAS, In 1901, The Franciscan Sisters of Chicago began to minister on education, providing Sisters to teach at various schools in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Texas; over the years, the Sisters taught in 44 grammar schools and two high schools, later opening St. Elizabeth Day Nursery in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, The Franciscan Sisters of Chicago purchased the Walker estate in Lemont, which served as the congregation's novitiate for 37 years; and

WHEREAS, In 1963, Our Lady of Victoria Convent opened as a home for retired and infirm Sisters in Lemont; the old convent was renovated and turned into a senior living community named Mother Theresa Home; the motherhouse stayed in use until 2002 when a new convent was built on the grounds; and

WHEREAS, The Franciscan Sisters of Chicago created the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago Service Corporation, later renamed Franciscan Ministries, which was established to help support, manage, and operate all facilities sponsored by the order and assist them in extending their charitable mission in health care, social services, pastoral care, and education; and

WHEREAS, In 1989, Franciscan Village, a senior living community, was opened in Lemont, and the Mother Theresa Home was incorporated into the community; and

WHEREAS, In 1998, another senior living community, Marian Village, was opened in Homer Glen; and

WHEREAS, The Franciscan Sisters of Chicago has positively affected the lives of countless people in this great state; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago on the occasion of their 130th anniversary, and we recognize all of the contributions by the Sisters who have impacted the health of their order, their communities, the country, and the world for the better; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago as an expression of our respect and esteem for the 130 years they have dedicated to service and community outreach.