HR0454 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0454 LRB102 20060 LAW 28903 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Saint Xavier University on the occasion of its 175th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, Saint Xavier University has been transforming lives through education since five Sisters of Mercy arrived in Chicago and opened the Saint Francis Xavier Female Academy of Chicago in 1846; the academy was named in honor of Sisters of Mercy leader Mother Frances Xavier Warde and the name of her patron, St. Francis Xavier; and

WHEREAS, Saint Xavier University has shown marked resilience since opening, from surviving the destruction caused by the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 to navigating more recent challenges posed in the higher education landscape; and

WHEREAS, Saint Xavier University has grown in numerous ways, including adding new buildings and programs, collecting academic and athletic accolades, and serving a student body of undergraduate and graduate students that continues to grow, with enrollment consistently surpassing the previous year; the university is marking its anniversary by welcoming the largest freshman class in its history in 2021; and

WHEREAS, Saint Xavier University was the first Catholic university in Chicago and the first Mercy institution of higher learning in the world; the university is a vital part of Illinois history and has served many families from the Oak Lawn area; and

WHEREAS, Saint Xavier University will celebrate its 175th anniversary with a special Spirit of Mercy Day on September 23, 2021, followed by a Student Leader Commissioning, an art gallery exhibit, and Homecoming celebrations; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Saint Xavier University on its 175th anniversary and wish the university continued success; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Saint Xavier University President Laurie M. Joyner, Ph.D., as an expression of our esteem and respect.