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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
COMMEMMORATING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF ST. VINCENT FERRER SCHOOL
WHEREAS, in 1931, Rev. William P. McIntyre, O.P., began organizing St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in River Forest, directing the construction of a small frame church for approximately thirty families; and
WHEREAS, in 1935, architect Zachary Davis laid out plans for St. Vincent Ferrer’s property, including a church, a school, a convent, and a rectory, in the English Gothic style of architecture; and
WHEREAS, due to the Depression, construction of the school was delayed until 1939. In 1940, the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters, led by principal Sister Ramona McAllister, O.P., began conducting classes in the new four-classroom school with a total enrollment of 44 pupils; and
WHEREAS, by the spring of 1942, the school enrollment had grown to 144 so four more classrooms and the auditorium were added; and
WHEREAS, Father McIntyre passed away in 1942 but was present in spirit when the first class graduated in 1943. Rev. Richard B. Connolly, O.P, was named pastor; and
WHEREAS, in 1947, the convent was constructed. At that time, 150 families belonged to the parish and 300 children attended the school; and
WHEREAS, St. Vincent Ferrer experienced rapid growth in the years following World War II. Shortly after he was appointed pastor in September 1950, Rev. Stephen Redmond, O.P., launched a $250,000 fund drive for a twelve-room school addition; and
WHEREAS, in 1954, ground was broken for a new church as the parish now accommodated 1,259 families; and
WHEREAS, after the new church was finished, the school children sold “Chocolate Covered Almonds” to raise money to turn the auditorium, which had been used for church services, to a gymnasium; and
WHEREAS, by 1957, when Rev. Benjamin Arend, O.P, became pastor, the school enrollment had blossomed to 929 students and a faculty of seventeen religious and four lay teachers; and
WHEREAS, the largest graduating class was 127 in 1961 and the smallest was 19 in 1998; and
WHEREAS, St. Vincent Ferrer School, a model of academic excellence, now provides 246 students with a mission that continues in the Dominican tradition of study, prayer, service, and community.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby commend St. Vincent Ferrer School for providing excellence in Catholic education throughout its 75-year history; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this text be tendered to the St. Vincent Ferrer community to commemorate its anniversary.
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