IBTBQS- The Members of this Chamber are. pleased to congratulate His, Eminence Blase Joseph Cupich, the archbishop of the Roman Catholic ' Archdiocese of Chicago, oh.his elevation to the rank of Cardinal Priest; and.
WHEREAS, A grandson of Croatian immigrants; Cardinal Cupich was born
on March 19; 19.49,. in Omaha, Nebraska,. He - was. ordained to the Roman
Catholic-priesthood'on August46,J97.5; and'-. :.;r "; • •
' ' WHEREAS, Cardinal Cupich attended:.Saint John Yianney Seminary at the
University of Saint Thomas in 'Saint Paul, Minnesota, .where he obtained d
Bachelor's degree in Philosophy in 1971, then he studied in Rome at the
Pontifical North American College and Pontifical Gregorian University, earning a...
Bachelor's degree, in Sacred Theology .in 1974/ and. a Master of Arts de'gree in
Theology in T975. Cardinal Cupich completed his graduate studi'es at.the
Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where' he obtained a Doctor ,
of Sacred Theology degree in 1-987; and ■■>.'. "■ '■■'■i./: '■ \-%
WHEREAS, From 1975 to 1998, Cardinal Cupich served in different pastoral,
leadership and instructional, capacities, including as associate pastor at.Saint
Margaret Mary Church in Omaha; instructor at- Paul VI High School in .Omaha;
director of the Office for Divine Worship and as the chairman of the Commission
on Youth in the. Archdiocese of Omaha; instructor of the Continuing Education
•of Priests Program and Diacongte; Formation at Creighton University in Omaha;
pastor' of Saint. Mary Church-;|n^ Bellevue, -Nebraska; President-Rector of the
Pontifical College Josephinum in'Columbus, Ohio-; and pastor of Saint Robert
BelldrminO Church in Omaha; and ■. ' " ' 1 -
; . WHEREAS, On .July 7, 1998; Pope John Paul II appointed Cardinal Cupich as the Bishop .of:-Rapid City, South Dakota, and after he received episcopal consecration from Bishop Harry Flynh of Saint Paul on September 21, 1998, he served the diocese of Rapid City from 1998 to 2010; and
WHEREAS, On June 30;, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Cardinal Cupich as the Bishop of Spokane, a role in which he served as part of the American episcopacy of the Roman Catholic Church; and.
. WHEREAS, An accomplished-scholar and theologian, Cardinal Cupich was' a member of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Ad Hoc Committee on Scripture Translation and was the author of "The New Roman Missal: A Time of Renewal", a work that placed the. new English translation of the Roman Missal, into the Catholic Church's tradition Of liturgical renewal; and
WHEREAS, On November 18, 2014, Cardinal Cupich was installed as the
archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, succeeding
Cardinal Francis George, O.M.I.;.and \: ■ ' . . '.
WHEREAS, On July 7, 2016, Pope Francis named Blase Joseph Cupich a
. member of the Congregation for Bishops, and on November 19, 20T6> he
elevated him to the rank of Cardinal Priest and he became d member of the
College of Cardinals; and . •.
WHEREAS, In November of 2016, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and First Lady Amy. Rule led a delegation Of more than eighty distinguished civic, faith, business and political leaders, as well as students from two Chicago high schools, to Rome to honor Cardinal Cupich and to take part in his elevation ceremony; and
WHEREAS, A dedicated spiritual father and steadfast leader, Cardinal
Cupich. deserves our admiration and respect for his outstanding service,
leadership and for his many contributions to our great City and Nation; now,
therefore, '[■. . • . •' -
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this twenty-fifth day of January, 20:1.7, do hereby congratulate His Eminence Blase Joseph Cupich on his elevation to the rank of Cardinal' Priest, and express our sincere appreciation to him for his inspirational and extraordinary life, service and accomplishments; and'