By Bruce Japsen
A slew of high-ranking Democratic office holders showed up at St. Andrew Catholic Church on Chicago's North Side last week to wish a happy retirement to the Rev. Jack Farry, a local priest known for his involvement in civil rights and other social justice issues. It was a respectful nod to a popular figure and yet another demonstration that in Chicago anyway pols still pay more than lip service to the notion that 'all politics is local.'
Those at a mass honoring the popular pastor included: U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, who in April was elected to replace Rahm Emanuel as Congressman from Illinois Fifth District; Illinois House Majority Leader Rep. Barbara Flynn-Currie, a Democrat close to President Barack Obama and his wife from Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood; and Dan Hynes, Illinois Comptroller and likely 2010 candidate for governor.
Several hundred guests attended a reception at the St. Andrew gym following the mass and heard Ald. Gene Schulter, among others, praise Farry's work at the parish.
Farry, who will remain Pastor Emeritus at St. Andrew, served at South Side parishes for decades before moving to St. Andrew at the edge of Wrigleyville in 2000.
Currie and Quigley read proclamations from their respective legislative bodies, hailing Farry's work as a leader, educator and man of peace.
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