[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 127 (Tuesday, September 13, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 13, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                  KILDEE HONORS BISHOP KENNETH POVISH

                                 ______


                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 13, 1994

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues in the 
U.S. House of Representatives to join me in paying tribute to an 
outstanding individual, Bishop Kenneth Povish. Bishop Povish is going 
to celebrate in 1995 45 years of priesthood, 25 years as a bishop and 
20 years as the Bishop of the Diocese of Lansing.
  Bishop Kenneth Povish was born in Alpena, MI. He attended parochial 
grammar and public high schools in Alpena. He was awarded his bachelor 
of arts degree by the Detroit Sacred Heart Seminary in 1946. He earned 
his master's degree in education from the Catholic University of 
Washington, DC in 1950. He also attended classes at St. Joseph's 
Seminary in Grand Rapids, MI, Georgetown University, and Northern 
Michigan University.
  Bishop Povish was ordained a priest in 1950 in Saginaw, MI. He began 
his pastoral duties at the St. Ignatius parish in Rogers City, MI. He 
became assistant at St. Hyacinth Catholic Church in Bay City, MI in 
1952. He held a number of assignments within Michigan until he became a 
member of the founding faculty at St. Paul's Seminary in Saginaw, MI. 
There he taught Latin, history, and religion. He was dean of the 
college department from 1960 until 1966. In 1966 Monsignor Povish 
became pastor at St. Stanislaus in Bay City. During this time, Bishop 
Povish served as diocesan director of the Confraternity of Christian 
Doctrine which trained more than 400 lay catechists.
  In 1970 Monsignor Povish was named a Bishop by Pope Paul VI. Bishop 
Povish was assigned to Crookston, MN. Bishop Povish was named as the 
Bishop for the Lansing, MI diocese in 1975. He has served in the 
position continuously since that time. As bishop of the Lansing 
diocese, Bishop Povish recognized that there were people in his flock 
who suffered from alcoholism. He has written extensively on this 
subject and has created the Bishop's Council on Alcoholism. His 
objective with the establishment of this council was to address the 
problem of alcoholism within the Catholic community. Bishop Povish is 
also a weekly contributor to the Catholic Weekly newspaper with a 
column entitled, ``The Way, Truth and Life.'' There is no question that 
Bishop Kenneth Povish has been a driving force in the Catholic 
community throughout mid-Michigan. Indeed his influence on the entire 
community has been positive.
  Mr. Speaker, I am especially pleased to stand before my colleagues in 
the U.S. House of Representatives to praise Bishop Kenneth Povish. He 
has long been a personal friend and spiritual adviser to me. He is man 
of the greatest personal integrity and highest moral character. He has 
risen to a position of authority within the Catholic Church because of 
his unwavering commitment to the principles of the teachings of Jesus 
Christ. I am most thankful for my friendship with Bishop Povish, and I 
am most thankful for his commitment to the faith.

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