RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, William Fraher officially stepped down as Director of Liturgical Music at Chicago's historic Old St. Patrick's Church on July 14, 2013, following twenty-two years of service; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this event by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, William Fraher earned his bachelor's degree in Philosophy from St. Mary's Seminary in Perryville, Missouri, a master's degree in Liturgy of the Arts from the De Andreas Institute of Theology and did post-graduate work at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California; and
WHEREAS, For more than two decades, William Fraher's expert direction has earned Old St. Patrick's Church, Chicago's oldest English-speaking Catholic parish, located in a building that survived the Great Fire of 1871, a well-deserved reputation for excellence in liturgical music; and
WHEREAS, In accordance with the Second Vatican Council's Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, William Fraher has fostered the congregation's "full, conscious and active participation"; and
WHEREAS, William Fraher will remain with the parish as Director of Concerts and Concert Choirs, working on the annual Deck the Halls, Too Hot to Handel and Siamsa na nGael concerts which bring such delight to appreciative audiences; and
WHEREAS, William Fraher will also remain as coordinator of music for weddings and funerals; and
WHEREAS, William Fraher's hard work, talent and dedication serve as an outstanding example to all; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this twenty-fourth day of July, 2013, do hereby commend William Fraher for his tireless commitment to excellence and thank him for his twenty-two years of service as Director of Liturgical Music for Old St. Patrick's Church; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to William Fraher.