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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING FATHER DOMINIC GRASSI ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT
WHEREAS, Father Dominic Grassi, pastor, teacher, counselor, coach, retreat and vocation director, inspirational speaker, editor, and popular writer said his final mass in June at Saint Gertrude Parish of Chicago. For over eleven years he was a treasured priest and leader of the faith community at St. Gerts, a congregation that under Father Dom made certain that all who came felt welcome. On his watch he made certain that their motto "All Are Welcome" truly became a reality, and
WHEREAS, Father Dominic Grassi's family emigrated from Southern Italy. His father and uncle opened a grocery store, and by the time Dominic was born, they had one of the largest grocery stores in the city. His mother was famous for her extraordinary cooking; and
WHEREAS, as a child, Dominic Grassi's family modeled strong values of multiculturalism decades before the term became commonly used. He grew up as a member of the only Italian family in a neighborhood that was a great melting pot, along the way learning from each of his neighbors and developing a deep appreciation of people's differences; he became a compassionate listener and advocate; and
WHEREAS, Dominic Grassi was the third of his three older brothers to attend the seminary before him but he was the only one of the three to finish seminary. He attended the college seminary, which was Niles College. It was originally a junior college and later before he graduated, it had affiliated with Loyola. He received an undergraduate degree in literature. While he was a seminary student, the country was in the midst of deep turmoil. During the 1960's the country was involved in the Vietnam War and the struggles surrounding the civil rights movement, among others. These events had a formative impact on his world view; he was ordained in 1973; and
WHEREAS, in childhood, Dominic Grassi attended school near a large public libr...
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