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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CHURCH
WHEREAS, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, located at 91 street and Brandon Avenue. on the far southeast side of Chicago, was the first Mexican parish established in the city of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, throughout the early 1910s, Mexicans from a variety of regions within México settled in communities throughout Chicago due to the many low-paying jobs available in the steel mills, this area included South Chicago; and
WHEREAS, by July 1923, Chicago’s Cardinal George Mundelein realized the need to establish support for this new immigrant community; and
WHEREAS, the original edifice of our Lady of Guadalupe was an old army barracks transported from Michigan; and
WHEREAS, in October 1924, the first Claretian arrived to staff the new church. Trusting the missionary order, Cardinal Mundelein charged the Claretians to minister to the Spanish-speaking population of the Archdiocese; and
WHEREAS, in 1925, Fr. James Tort, CMF became pastor of the first Spanish-speaking parish in the region; and
WHEREAS, he immediately organized the construction of the current church; and
WHEREAS, today, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church is home to a thriving parish community, which ministers to the Hispanic/Latino Catholics from the neighborhood and non-Hispanic Catholics from a variety of Chicago neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, a shrine of St. Jude is located at this location; and
WHEREAS, Our Lady of Guadalupe is a beacon of hope that provides resources, support systems, and partners up with community organizations, etc.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby recognize and honor the 100th Anniversary of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this text be spread upon the proceedings of this Honorable Body and that a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in honor of its outstanding achievements and their 100th anniversary.end