HR0513

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are pleased to congratulate the Very Reverend 
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John Elias Kuchta and the congregation of St. Nicholas Orthodox 
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Church in Joliet on the 100th anniversary of the church; and

 
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    WHEREAS, St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Joliet, Illinois, 
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will celebrate 100 years of Orthodoxy on Sunday, September 23, 
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2007, with His Eminence, The Most Reverend Job, Archbishop of 
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Chicago and Diocese of the Midwest, concelebrating 
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Hierarchical Vespers on Saturday, September 22, 2007, and 
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Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Sunday, September 23, 2007; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Joliet's oldest Orthodox church was founded in 
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1907 to minister to the Russian, Serbian, and Greek immigrants 
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who settled in Joliet after leaving their native lands because 
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of oppression and difficult economic conditions; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Church founders and benefactors made many 
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sacrifices to build and support the parish; and
 
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    WHEREAS, St. Nicholas is among those pioneer parishes that 
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provided a spiritual and cultural home for thousands of 
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immigrants who left homelands in the old country around the 
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turn of the century to settle in America; and
 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, From very modest beginnings, the St. Nicholas 
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parish persevered through two World Wars and a great depression 
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and succeeded in preserving and nurturing the faith and 
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spiritual life of five generations of Orthodox faithful; and
 
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    WHEREAS, In 1909, parishioners began worshipping in a 
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church building at 208 Clay Street, which became the first 
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Orthodox Church building in the city of Joliet; in 1959, the 
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parish purchased land for a new church, and in 1966 moved into 
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their current St. Nicholas Orthodox Church building at 1000 
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Barber Lane in Joliet; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The Very Reverend John Elias Kuchta came to St. 
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Nicholas Orthodox Church in 1956 as a young priest serving his 
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first parish, and has served the parishioners of St. Nicholas 
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for over 50 years while selflessly carrying out his duties, and 
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earning the love, respect, and admiration of the St. Nicholas 
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parishioners and his fellow clergyman; therefore, be it
 

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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate the Very Reverend John Elias Kuchta and the 
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congregation of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Joliet on its 
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100th Anniversary of the church; and be it further

 
 


 






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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the Very Reverend John Elias Kuchta as a symbol 
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our esteem.