[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 103 (Thursday, June 22, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             FORTY YEARS TO CARE, MOST WITH A FOCUS OF HOPE

                                 ______


                          HON. JAMES A. BARCIA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 22, 1995
  Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, what do you do when you have someone who 
keeps coming to you saying that there is a problem, and something needs 
to be done about it? You let them come up with the solution. That is 
exactly what happened nearly 27 years ago when the Bishop of the 
archdiocese of Detroit told Father William T. Cunningham, Jr., that he 
had his permission to stop teaching as an English professor at Sacred 
Heart Seminary, become a pastor of Madonna Catholic Church, and the 
full-time director of Focus: HOPE, an organization he cofounded. In 
this fashion was born a wonderful organization many of us know as 
Focus: HOPE, and the beginning of a relationship for millions of 
Michiganders who have come to know and love Father William Cunningham, 
who this weekend celebrates his 40th anniversary as a Roman Catholic 
priest, with masses at his home parish of our Lady of the Madonna.
  I am privileged to call attention to the accomplishments of Father 
Cunningham because he originally comes from Ruth and Ubly, in the thumb 
of Michigan in my congressional district. He comes back frequently and 
is well-known to many of my constituents. He has been a parish priest, 
a teacher, and a leader. He has been a friend and helper to many, and a 
bane to others who failed to share his belief that people need a 
helping hand out of poverty. He is caring. He is irascible. He is 
tender. He is tenacious. He is unique.
  Father Cunningham has helped spearhead efforts to revitilze portions 
of Detroit that had been ravaged by riots, and more importantly to 
reinvigorate the people who had to live with the riots themselves, or 
with the aftereffects of the riots. He helped push for food programs 
for women, infants, and children. He helped push for food assistance to 
the needy elderly. He worked tirelessly for the creation of a 
machinists training institute that has grown to a world-class facility, 
winning quality awards, and helping people get well-paying jobs have a 
future. He has succeeded in using food as the first step toward 
independence, and many of us have heard him say time and time again 
that his fondest hope is that one day he can close the food program and 
throw away the key because everyone has all the food they need.
  Over the years, people never cease to be amazed by his seemingly 
inexhaustible energy. They are warmed by his bright smile, sometimes 
beguiled and other times delighted by the twinkle in his eye. After a 
period of time one learns better than to ask ``so what is your next 
project,'' especially when one understands that his churning mind is 50 
percent innovation, 50 percent determination, and 50 percent divine 
intervention. It just isn't fair for anyone to deal with him.
  Mr. Speaker, Father Cunningham is devoted to his church, devoted to 
his cause, and devoted to people. He is truly a model of what is best 
in our Nation. If each State had just one Bill Cunningham. I shudder to 
think what we could accomplish. I urge all of our colleagues to join me 
in wishing him the happiest and most blessed 40 anniversary of his 
ordination to the priesthood.


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