IL HR1402

House Resolution congratulating Blase Joseph Cupich on his appointment as Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, installed November 18, 2014, as the 9th Archbishop succeeding Cardinal Francis George.

Cupich was born March 19, 1949 in Omaha, Nebraska; ordained to the priesthood on August 16, 1975; and earned a doctorate in Sacred Theology in 1987.

Appointed Bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota on July 6, 1998; served until 2010 when Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of Spokane.

As Bishop of Spokane, Cupich served on the Ad Hoc Committee on Scripture Translation and authored "The New Roman Missal: A Time of Renewal" in July 2011; commenced a 3-year term as chairman of the National Catholic Education Association in March 2013.

House recognizes Cupich's pastoral leadership, educational experience, and episcopal responsibilities, and extends best wishes as he takes on challenges in his new Archdiocese.