His staff before him, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin walks into St. Hubert's Church in Hoffman Estates.
Daily Herald file, 1983
Nov. 14 marks the 20th anniversary of Cardinal Joseph Bernardin's death. Cardinal Bernardin was 68 and died after a lengthy battle with cancer. He received the traditional cardinal's "red hat" from Pope John Paul II on Feb. 2, 1983.
Bernardin was a man of God whose strength and faith was developed beginning April 2, 1928 - the day he was born to Giuseppi "Beppi" and Maria Bernardin in South Carolina. He was ordained to the priesthood on April 26, 1952, and eventually made his way to Chicago where he was appointed Archbishop on July 10, 1982. Bernardin visited many churches in Lake and Cook counties.
Bernardin's final project was perhaps his most ambitious. The Catholic Common Ground Project set out to create a dialogue between Catholics who were divided on so many issues, including the role of women in the church, the declining number of priests and Catholic education.
Bernardin spent his final days documenting his last three years in a book titled "The Gift of Life" and ministering to other terminally ill cancer patients.
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Cardinal Joseph Bernardin waves to a crowd of more than 2,200 people at an outdoor mass celebrating Maryville Academy's 100 years of caring for children.
Daily Herald file, 1983
Cardinal Joseph Bernardin helps St. Anne Catholic Church in Barrington celebrate its 100th anniversary during a mass.
Daily Herald file, 1984
Cardinal Joseph Bernardin enters Queen of the Rosary Church during a mass for the 125th anniversary of Alexia Brothers service in the United States.
Joe Lewnard/jlwenard@dailyherald.com, 1991
Cardinal Joseph Bernardin with a group of supporters at O'Hare International Airport.
Daily Herald file, 1993
Cardinal Joseph Bernardin says a mass at St. Mary of Vernon in Vernon Hills.
Daily Herald file, Circa 1983
Cardinal Joseph Bernardin sports a cowboy hat given as a gift by the St. Mary's parish in Mundelein during the church's 120th anniversary.
Daily Herald file, undated
Cardinal Joseph Bernardin conducts a news conference in the early 90s.
Daily Herald file, 1993
Archbishop Joseph Bernardin visits University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary.
Daily Herald file, 1982
Cardinal Joseph Bernardin visits the St. Josephs Home for the Elderly for its 25th year in Palatine and 150th year in operation.
Daily Herald file, 1991
Cardinal Joseph Bernardin oversees the confirmation of 150 children at St. Cecilia's Church in Mount Prospect.
Daily Herald file, 1984
Sister Barbara Hawkin shows Cardinal Joseph Bernardin looks over a talking stick used by Native Americas during a visit to the Sisters of the Living Word.
Daily Herald file, 1992
Cardinal Joseph Bernardin celebrates mass at Wauconda's Transfiguration Church.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com, 1991
Cardinal Joseph Bernardin celebrates mass for parishioners at S.t Francis de Sales church during the dedication ceremony in Lake Zurich.
Daily Herald file, 1990
To celebrate Maryville Academy's 100 years of caring for children, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin celebrates an outdoor mass in Des Plaines.
Daily Herald file, 1933
Cardinal Joseph Bernardin and Sister Patricia Ann view the expansion site of the Holy Family Hospital in Des Plaines. Bernardin officiated the groundbreaking ceremony.
Daily Herald file, 1983
Around 1,300 people filled Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago for Cardinal Joseph Bernardin's funeral.
Daily Herald file, 1996
Mourners gather for Cardinal Joseph Bernardin's funeral at Holy Name Cathedral near the Magnificent Mile in Chicago.
Daily Herald file, 1996