RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Sacred Heart School, located in the Vets' Park community on the South Side, is celebrating its first 100 years as a center of Catholic primary education; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has been informed of this milestone by the Honorable John Pope ofthe 10th Ward; and
WHEREAS, part of Sacred Heart Croatian Parish, which was founded in 1913, Sacred Heart School was established in 1914 to provide educational opportunities to the growing local Croatian community, as an extension ofthe church's ministry; and
WHEREAS, beginning with a lay staff, about 100 students, and using four rooms above the original parish church, Sacred Heart School grew quickly. In 1915, at the invitation ofthe then pastor, Father Ivan Stepanovic, the School Sisters of St. Francis of Christ the King took over the teaching duties and the school's growth accelerated; and
WHEREAS, the addition of another classroom proved insufficient as enrollment continued to grow, and plans were made for a new, modern school building; and
WHEREAS, on September 9, 1959, the children of the parish were welcomed into their new school. More than a collection of conventional classrooms, the current school building also houses the Marian Media Center, a computer laboratory, and a high-tech office classroom; and
WHEREAS, the School Sisters of St. Francis withdrew from staffing Sacred Heart School in 2008, although two members ofthe order remain in residence, maintaining the order's long tradition of dedicated service; and
WHEREAS, originally founded to serve Croatian immigrants and their children, Sacred Heart School welcomes children of all backgrounds; and
WHEREAS, amid all the social changes of the past 100 years, Sacred Heart School remains dedicated to the complete formation of children intellectually, physically, spiritually and emotionally through every aspect of its curriculum; and
WHEREAS, under the direction and leadership of Father Stephen Bedenikovic, O.F.M., pastor of Sacred Heart Croatian Parish, and Mr. Steve Adams, its principal, Sacred Heart School continues to train young people to help create a world wherein peace, justice, unity and harmony abound amid great diversity; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED that we, the Mayor and members ofthe City Council ofthe City of Chicago, assembled this 5th day of November, 2014, do hereby congratulate the students, faculty, administration of Sacred Heart School on the school's centennial; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we thank the parishioners and staff of Sacred Heart Parish for their ongoing commitment to the education and formation of their community's young people, and we wish them every success in the future; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that suitable copies of this Resolution be presented to Father Bedenikovic and Principal Adams as a token of our esteem and appreciation.