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The
History of the Sheil Catholic Center Epilogue
No history of an
institution can ever adequately record "the spirit of
the place," which is a product of the people who compose
it. Calendars, building specifications, financial accounts,
even correspondence never do justice to the people behind
them. Individual memory is usually a very personal thing involving
the impact and interplay of other persons; the historian's
chronicle, restricted to data, misses most of that. A place
may bear its own address, present its own configuration of
space, publish its own calendar, but the reality of what goes
on there will vary according to the special qualities of those
who shape the experience within it. A recorded name from the
past can be linked to an office, a committee or an event,
but it remains only a name: The persona is missing. The only
authentic history of Sheil would be one that gathers together
the personal testimonials of all those who have played a part
in its life -- an impossible task. Our modest hopes must be
that recalling some of the names and events will trigger the
more significant memories of persons present to one another,
sharing both common goals and special gifts, needs and dreams.
The Man Behind
the Name - Archbishop Bernard J. Sheil (1886 - 1969)
The man for whom
Sheil Catholic Center is named was an extraordinary figure
in the life of the Church in America. An outspoken advocate
of social justice in the underprivileged and marginalized
sectors of the community, he drew the admiration of Chicagoans
of all faiths for his active concern for the people. When
Northwestern University celebrated its centennial in 1951,
it honored with special awards for distinguished service to
society many persons from the states that had made up the
old "Northwest Territory." Bernard Sheil was one
of these award winners; his tribute included this summary:
"...fighter
for social democracy, justice for minority groups, and opportunities
for the underprivileged; founder of the internationally famous
Catholic Youth Organization. Born on Chicago's tough West
Side, Bishop Sheil has not only actively supported such groups
as the CIO and the Chicago Back of the Yards Council, but
has instigated many projects for economic and social betterment.
Early in his career, while serving as chaplain at the Cook
County Jail, he conceived the idea of an organization to help
underprivileged boys in Chicago's slum areas. Out of this
grew the influential Catholic Youth Organization. Among other
important projects for which he is responsible are the Sheil
School of Social Studies, offering abroad program of adult
education to all citizens; Sheil House, a social settlement
for young Negroes, and the Nisei House established after the
war to help the 15,000 Japanese-Americans who came to Chicago
after being released from relocation centers."
Earlier, in 1939, the Northwestern students visiting the chancery
to seek approval for their idea for a Catholic club on this
campus met with Bishop Sheil and immediately received his
eager support. They decided to name the new club after him;
he in turn not only provided the help that was needed to initiate
its programs but also the financial assistance that led to
the acquisition of its first residence. He maintained his
personal interest in this club throughout his life, and now
the Sheil Center at Northwestern is the sole institution that
continues, proudly, to bear his name.
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