Bill Text: IL SR0270 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Mourns the death of Monsignor William A. Watson.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2021-05-06 - Resolution Adopted [SR0270 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2021-SR0270-Introduced.html
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1 | SENATE RESOLUTION
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2 | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened | ||||||
3 | to learn of the death of Monsignor William A. Watson of Odell, | ||||||
4 | who passed away on April 27, 2021; and
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5 | WHEREAS, Monsignor Watson was born to Jarlath M. and | ||||||
6 | Lucille M. (Johnson) Watson in Pontiac on March 9, 1936; he | ||||||
7 | graduated from St. Paul High School in 1954; he attended St. | ||||||
8 | Bede Prep Seminary in Peru, Illinois for two years and | ||||||
9 | graduated from St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein in | ||||||
10 | 1962; he was ordained by Bishop John B. Franz in Peoria in June | ||||||
11 | of 1962; and
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12 | WHEREAS, Monsignor Watson's first parish assignment was at | ||||||
13 | St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rock Island; there, he served as | ||||||
14 | parochial vicar under Father Frank Casey; in 1969, he was | ||||||
15 | assigned to St. John's Newman Center in Champaign where he | ||||||
16 | assisted Monsignor Edward Duncan until 1981; at that time, he | ||||||
17 | became pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle in Peoria Heights; he | ||||||
18 | remained pastor there until receiving his senior status in | ||||||
19 | 2015 and then retired to Odell; and
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20 | WHEREAS, Monsignor Watson embodied the true measure of a | ||||||
21 | priest, and his commitment to people was the hallmark of his | ||||||
22 | ministry; he was compassionate and kind and made a deep mark on |
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1 | those who knew him; his gentle leadership attracted a vibrant | ||||||
2 | and flourishing community of faith at St. Thomas, where he | ||||||
3 | oversaw the addition of St. Thomas School, an enlarged worship | ||||||
4 | space, and a new rectory; he will especially be remembered for | ||||||
5 | his Irish wit and humor and for the love he had for family and | ||||||
6 | friends; and
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7 | WHEREAS, Monsignor Watson was preceded in death by his | ||||||
8 | brother-in-law, Bud Verdun; and
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9 | WHEREAS, Monsignor Watson is survived by his one sister, | ||||||
10 | Catherine (Bud) Verdun; his three brothers, John (Peg) Watson, | ||||||
11 | Joe (Caroline) Watson, and Jim (Linda) Watson; his 16 nieces | ||||||
12 | and nephews; and his 51 great-nieces and great-nephews; | ||||||
13 | therefore, be it
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14 | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL | ||||||
15 | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of | ||||||
16 | Monsignor William A. Watson and extend our sincere condolences | ||||||
17 | to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be | ||||||
18 | it further
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19 | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | ||||||
20 | presented to the family of Monsignor Watson as an expression | ||||||
21 | of our deepest sympathy.
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