RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, In 1894, a group of about forty families, who had immigrated from Poland, helped establish a new parish - St. Hyacinth Parish in the Avondale community in the city of Chicago; and,
WHEREAS, History records show the original site of a two-story wooden building on Milwaukee and Central Park Avenues as the first parish center of worship. The bottom floor was used for classroom space and living quarters for the sisters, while the second floor was used as the church; and,
WHEREAS, By 1910, the parish had grown so much that a new church building was needed to be built. The new building, much larger than the first, was built three blocks away at the corner of Wolfram and Lawndale. But it was built as a temporary church school combination; and,
WHEREAS, In 1917, construction of the present church building began on the same plot of land facing George Street, and, in 2003, Pope John Paul II bestowed on the church, the title of Minor Basilica; and,
WHEREAS, Although the parish still has a large Polish community, today, it is a parish composed of people from many nationalities and countries; and,
WHEREAS, This year, the parish celebrates the 125th anniversary of its founding. The parish has been celebrating this joyous occasion since December 2, 2018, and the celebration will come to a conclusion on October 6, 2019; and now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this 18th day of September 2019 AD, do hereby express our congratulations and best wishes to the parishioners of St. Hyacinth Basilica on their 125th anniversary; and,
Ariel E. Reboyras Alderman, 30th Ward
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to St. Hyacinth Basilica.