RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, St. Jane de Chantal Parish located in the Garfield Ridge community of Chicago celebrates the 60th Anniversary of its founding and the 50th Anniversary of the dedication of its church building during 2014; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of these milestones by Aldermen Edward M. Burke and Michael Zalewski; and
WHEREAS, On July 3, 1954, Samuel Cardinal Stritch appointed the Reverend John A. Ward to establish St. Jane de Chantal Parish on what was then a rural site surrounded by prairie at 53rd Street and McVicker Avenue; and
WHEREAS, The new pastor celebrated the first Mass at the nearby Mark Twain Public School on August 1, 1954, a building which the parish rented for $96.00 each Sunday; and
WHEREAS, Within a year, four Masses were celebrated each weekend and pioneers of the fledgling parish launched a campaign to build a church by raising funds through bake sales, house parties and fall festivals; and
WHEREAS A small bungalow was purchased by the parish and members of the newly-organized Holy Name Society converted the structure into a temporary rectory which included a small basement chapel for daily Mass; and
WHEREAS, In the hands of the faithful of the St. Jane community, this simple building became the center of the parish's operations and ministry; and
WHEREAS, On Palm Sunday, April 3, 1955, ground was broken at 5201 South McVicker Avenue for a multipurpose church-school-convent-hall structure; and
WHEREAS, The cornerstone was laid on June 26, 1955 and Archdiocesan Chancellor Monsignor Edward M. Burke extended a warm blessing for the building; and
WHEREAS, Mass in the new church was celebrated for the first time on Christmas Day, 1955; and
WHEREAS, On March 2, 1962, ground was broken for the parish's present church and rectory; and
WHEREAS, The cornerstone-laying ceremony took place on July 16, 1962, with Reverend Monsignor John S. Quinn and Mayor Richard J. Daley participating; and
WHEREAS, On April 26, 1964, Albe...
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