[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 94 (Friday, June 9, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1219-E1220]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      TRIBUTE TO FATHER JAY SAMONIE

                                 ______


                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 8, 1995
  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the years of 
service and achievement of the Reverend Jay Samonie. On July 1, 1995, 
Father Samonie will retire as pastor from St. Michael Catholic Church, 
in Monroe, MI.
  The son of Lebanese-American parents, Jacob and Marie Samonie, Father 
Samonie is 1 of 11 children and grew up on the east side of Detroit.
  When he was 14, he enrolled at Sacred Heart Seminary, where he 
completed high school and obtained a bachelor's degree. He took 
postgraduate studies in theology at the St. John's Provincial Seminary 
in Plymouth, MI. He received a master's degree from the University of 
Detroit in 1971 and a doctorate in 1988. Father Samonie was knighted by 
the worldwide Order of St. Peter in 1984 and joined the Knights of 
Columbus in 1989.
  Before coming to Monroe, Father Samonie served as pastor of Holy 
Trinity Catholic Church in Detroit for 11 years, where he led medical 
and social programs serving more than 30,000 people annually. His other 
pastorates include St. Michael Parish in Pontiac in 1972 and St. 
Bernadette Church in Dearborn in 1968.
  Throughout his years of service, Father Samonie has remained active 
in the community and the Archdiocese. He served as vicar 
[[Page E1220]] of the Southwest Detroit Vicariate from 1970-72 and 
served on the Archdiocesan Pastoral Assembly, Bread for the World, 
Clergy Advisory Board for the Archdiocesan Office of Hispanic Affairs 
and Pastoral Alliance of Detroit. Since 1968, Father Samonie has been a 
member of a pastoral team that assists Latin-Americans and has been 
Guadalupe Society Director since 1963. He also has the distinction of 
being the first priest to serve on the Michigan Judicial Tenure 
Commission, which investigates charges of misconduct against any State 
court judge.
  Father Samonie's hobby is painting. His beautiful compositions are 
created using oils, acrylics, watercolors, and airbrush on a variety of 
surfaces. Angels and flowers are the pastor's favorite subjects but all 
of his works include messages and themes. There have been two 
successful exhibits of his artwork. During his retirement Father 
Samonie plans to concentrate on painting people and biblical scenes.
  From civic duty to painting, Father Samonie has fostered beauty and 
kindness throughout his career. His life is a testament to the vast 
good a dedicated person can achieve within a community. Mr. Speaker, I 
call upon my colleagues to join with me in congratulating Father 
Samonie on his distinguished career of service and to wish him 
continued good health, happiness, and involvement in the many causes he 
holds dear.


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