[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 111 (Thursday, August 11, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 11, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
     WELCOMING TODAY'S GUEST CHAPLAIN, MSGR. ROGER CHARLES ROENSCH

  (Mr. KILDEE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I welcome to 
the House today our guest chaplain, Msgr. Roger Charles Roensch.
  Monsignor Roensch is the pilgrimage director at the Basilica of the 
National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception here in Washington, DC.
  The monsignor graduated from the North American College and Gregorian 
University in Rome in 1958.
  In the same year, he was ordained a priest and served in the 
Archdiocese of Milwaukee until 1970.
  After serving 11 years at the North American College in Rome, Father 
Roensch came to the National Shrine in 1981.
  Father Roensch was incardinated into the Archdiocese of Washington by 
James Cardinal Hickey in 1989, and he was later named a domestic 
prelate by Pope John Paul II in December of 1990.
  Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the House Page Board, I am particularly 
pleased that the monsignor has joined us today.
  Each year, the monsignor has graciously hosted the pages at the 
national shrine.
  He has made them feel welcome, and encouraged them to make the 
national shrine their parish church while they are in Washington.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in welcoming Msgr. Roger 
Charles Roensch to the House of Representatives.

                              {time}  1130
   ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DEATH OF THE HONORABLE JESSIE SUMNER, FORMER 
                      CONGRESSWOMAN FROM ILLINOIS

  (Mr. EWING asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. EWING. Mr. Speaker, I regret to inform the House of the passing 
of a former colleague. Jessie Sumner, one of the oldest living former 
members, passed away yesterday at the age of 96. Originally from 
Milford, IL, she represented the people of east central Illinois in the 
U.S. Congress from 1939 until 1947.
  She was a 1920 graduate of Smith College. Congresswoman Sumner 
studied law at the University of Chicago, Columbia University, and 
Oxford University. She started her political career when she was 
elected judge of Iroquois County in 1937. In 1938, she was elected to 
the U.S. Congress from the 18th District.
  Congresswomen Sumner was a pioneer and served as one of only nine 
female Representatives in the 76th Congress. She served in the Congress 
with distinction during the turbulent years of World War II. She was an 
outspoken pacifist and fiscal conservative. As the war years continued, 
Representative Sumner often found herself being a lone voice of concern 
about the cost of the war on the lives of Americans.
  Representative Sumner declined to be a candidate for reelection in 
1946. She returned to Milford to resume her position as vice president 
and later President of the Sumner National Bank.
  The citizens of east central Illinois were truly lucky to be 
represented by Congresswoman Sumner and to have her as a lifelong 
citizen of Iroquois County.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have had the opportunity to have 
contacts with Representative Sumner. We all shall miss her, and we 
regret the loss of this true friend.

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