RESOLUTION NO. 010269
In memory of Retired
Bishop John J. Sullivan, who passed away February 11, 2001.
WHEREAS, the
Mayor and Council are saddened by the death on February 11, 2001, of the Most
Reverend John J. Sullivan, Retired Bishop of Kansas City-St. Joseph; and
WHEREAS, known
for his vision, warmth and sense of humor, Bishop Sullivan had been the leader
of more than 163,000 Catholics in northern and western Missouri from 1977 until
1993, when Parkinson's disease forced his retirement; and
WHEREAS,
initiated by Bishop Sullivan, the local Diocese began to train lay Catholics
for greater roles in the Church with the formation of the Center for Pastoral
Life & Ministry in 1978, by 1985 a national movement to train lay minsters
evolved with the creation of the Institute for Pastoral Life; and
WHEREAS, Bishop
Sullivan believed that education offered the best hope for breaking the cycle
of poverty, and under his leadership the diocese, corporate and civic leaders
established The Central City School Fund in 1989. Since then, The Fund has
provided scholarships for more than 5,000 of our communitys most precious
resource, our youth, to attend neighborhood Catholic schools; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY
THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
That the Mayor
and Council hereby express their profound sorrow on the death of Bishop John J.
Sullivan; and
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that this Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the Council in
testimony thereof and that a copy hereof be presented to the Diocese of Kansas
City-St. Joseph in token of the genuine esteem and respect in which Bishop John
J. Sullivan was held, and in token of the deep and sincere sympathy hereby
extended to the bereaved family.
________________________________________________________________