RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Right Reverend Monsignor Leo T. Mahon has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 87; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, As head of Hispanic Ministry for the Archdiocese of Chicago in the early 1950's, the Right Reverend Monsignor Leo T. Mahon organized the Caballeros de San Juan, a group which brought young Puerto Rican men together to deepen their faith and improve their communities; and
WHEREAS, The success of the Caballeros de San Juan inspired the establishment of similar groups in the dioceses of New York, Philadelphia, and Boston; and
WHEREAS, A memorable preacher with a deep commitment to social justice, the Right Reverend Monsignor Leo T. Mahon detailed his thirteen years of mission work in his autobiography, Fire Under My Feet: A Memoir of God's Power in Panama; and
WHEREAS, Returning to the United States, the Right Reverend Monsignor Leo T. Mahon became pastor at St. Victor in Calumet, Indiana, and inaugurated many programs and activities including Jubilee Retreat weekends, College of Ministry and Operation Summer for teens; and
WHEREAS, The Right Reverend Monsignor Leo T. Mahon also instituted a range of social service projects, renovated the church sanctuary, and created a Lay Diaconate that engaged a dozen men of the parish in direct service to the community; and
WHEREAS, In 1987, the Right Reverend Monsignor Leo T. Mahon returned to Chicago and joined the St. Mary's of the Woods Faith Community; and
WHEREAS, The hard work, dedication and faith of the Right Reverend Monsignor Leo T. Mahon serve as an outstanding example to all; and
WHEREAS, His love of life and ability to live it to the fullest endeared the Right Reverend Monsignor Leo T. Mahon to his family members, friends, and all who knew him, and enabled him to enrich their lives in ways they will never forget; and
WHEREAS, To his beloved family and to all his former parishioners, the Right Reverend Monsignor Leo T. Mahon imparts a legacy of faithfulness, service and dignity; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this fifth day of June, 2013, do hereby commemorate the Right Reverend Monsignor Leo T. Mahon for his grace-filled life and do hereby express our condolences to his family; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of the Right Reverend Monsignor Leo T. Mahon.