Title
Honoring and Congratulating the Most Reverend Charles Joseph Chaput for his recent installation as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Body
WHEREAS, The Most Reverend Charles Joseph Chaput was born on September 26, 1944, in Concordia, Kansas, where he attended Catholic schools. He joined the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, Saint Augustine Province, in 1965; and
WHEREAS, Archbishop Chaput earned his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Saint Fidelis College Seminary in 1967 and went on to earn a Master of Arts in Religious Education from Capuchin College in 1970 and a Master of Arts in Theology from the University of San Francisco in 1971; and
WHEREAS, Archbishop Chaput was ordained to the priesthood on August 29, 1970, and served with distinction as an instructor in theology and spiritual director at Saint Fidelis Seminary from 1971 to 1974, and later as executive secretary and director of communications for the Capuchin Province of Saint Augustine in Pittsburgh from 1974 to 1977; and
WHEREAS, In 1977, Archbishop Chaput was named pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Thornton, Colorado, and vicar provincial for the Capuchin Province of Mid-America. He was named secretary and treasurer for the province in 1980 and became chief executive and provincial minister three years later; and
WHEREAS, Following his faithful service in Colorado, Archbishop Chaput was ordained Bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota, on July 26, 1988; and
WHEREAS, His Holiness Pope John Paul II appointed Chaput as Archbishop of Denver on February 18, 1997, becoming the second person of Native American ancestry to be ordained bishop in the United States, and the first Native American archbishop; and
WHEREAS, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI appointed Archbishop Chaput as the thirteenth Bishop and ninth Archbishop of Philadelphia on July 19, 2011, with his installation occurring on September 8, 2011; and
WHEREAS, As head of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Archbishop Chaput is the spiritual leader to nearly 1.5 million Catholics in the five county region. He oversees 266 parishes, as well as 157 elementary and 17 high schools that provide more than 64,000 students with a quality, affordable education at a significantly lower per-student cost than public schools. Combined, Archdiocesan schools save regional taxpayers approximately $295 million every year; and
WHEREAS, In addition to furthering its education mission, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia provides critical social services to countless Philadelphians every year. Each year, Catholic institutions serve the region by providing care to more than 227,000 people, employing more than 30,000 people, and supplying nearly 10,000,000 meals to the hungry. These impressive efforts would not be possible without generous financial support from the Archdiocese and the charitable dedication of thousands of volunteers; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his decades of service, Archbishop Chaput has demonstrated a strong commitment to serving his fellow citizens of all faiths and ethnicities in every community in which he has resided. In his new vocation, he will continue to expand upon the educational successes and impressive charitable services that the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has long provided for our citizens in need; now therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it honors and congratulates the Most Reverend Charles Joseph Chaput for his recent installation as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and wishes the Archdiocese many years of continued success and service under his leadership.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Archbishop Charles Joseph Chaput as evidence of the sincere sentiments and appreciation of this legislative body.
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