RESOLUTION IN TRIBUTE TO THE DAUGHTERS OF ST. MARY OF PROVIDENCE
ON IT'S CENTENNITAL ANNIVERSARY OF TREATING THE DEVELOPMENTAL!^ DISABLED
WHEREAS, in May of 1913, Mother Rose Bertolini and her Sisters, the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence, arrived in Chicago, IL, to begin a work with Italian immigrants at Santa Maria Addolorata Parish, and later, in 1925, took over what was previously St. Pascal's Parish at 4242 N. Austin and became among the first institution in the Midwest to establish a ministry providing for the needs of the developmentally disabled; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has been notified of this 100lh Anniversary Year of the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence by the Honorable Timothy Cullerton, Alderman of the 38th Ward; and
WHEREAS, the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence (DSMP) are sometimes called the Guanellian Sisters after their founder, Saint Louis Guanella. The Daughters of St. Mary of Providence, a Religious Congregation of Pontifical Rite, live under the auspices of the Holy Father, and the direction of the Church. This love and fidelity to the Magisterium of the Church is an outstanding quality that every Sister fosters through a total commitment to God of a life in service of the Church. DSMP profess the three vows of Chastity, Poverty and Obedience in a communion of life as religious sisters. They spread the "culture of charity" of St. Louis Guanella to fourteen countries around the world: Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Romania, India, the Philippines, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Mexico, Canada and the United States. The Immaculate Conception Province comprises Canada, Mexico, the Philippines and the United States; and
WHEREAS, over the past ten decades, the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence continue to embrace persons with developmental disabilities. In 1945, St. Mary of Providence completed the a school building for the residents; 1952 the first day program, students were admitted; 1956 a gym auditorium was constructed, and later buildings were erected for residential services and formal vocational training began with the work activity center; 1970 the completion of the Providence Center, a community living facility; 1979 Rose-Angela Hall and Marian Hall were constructed; 1987 The Developmental Training Program was granted a license; 1988 Rose-Angela Hall and Marian Hall were licensed for 48 beds for adults and in 1995, 32 more beds were added, this facility is an Intermediate Care Facility for persons with developmental disabilities; 2004 Clare Center, a fully accessible Developmental Training facility with Staff of 130 people who provide habilitation and vocational programs for 96 residents and 98 persons in the Developmental Training and Workshop Programs; 2011 The Developmental Training Program was awarded a 3-year accreditation by the Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission(CARF); and
WHEREAS, the leaders of this great City of Chicago wish to acknowledge the vast contributions made by the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence to our community and more specifically to the many people in its charge; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved, that we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this tenth day of April 2013, A.D., do hereby congratulate the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence on its Centennial Anniversary, and extend to its devoted Sisters and staff our most fervent wishes for continuing success and fulfillment.
Be It Further Resolved, that a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence.
Timothy Cullerton Alderman-38th Ward