[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 55 (Thursday, April 25, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E625]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO SISTER JOANNE M. CHIAVERINI AND FATHER PHILIP A. SCHMITTER

                                 ______


                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 24, 1996

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to share with my 
colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives the contributions to 
our community by two committed spiritual leaders. Sister Joanne M. 
Chiaverini, of the Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, 
and Father Philip A. Schmitter are the two codirectors of the St. 
Francis Prayer Center. Sister Joanne and Father Phil have ministered to 
the spiritual, economic, and health needs of the people of northern 
Flint for many years.
  Sister Joanne Chiaverini, a sister for 39 years, founded the St. 
Francis Prayer Center in July 1974 to be a spiritual oasis for persons 
of all denominational, economic, and ethnic backgrounds. She insisted 
the center be located where ``the poor could walk'' and has fostered a 
place that has provided programs, retreats, and classes for nurturing a 
healthy self image. She has lead the center to be a spiritual 
organization that ministers with and to the poor in roles of referral, 
initiation, and advocacy.
  Father Philip Schmitter's commitment to the poor led him to move into 
HUD's River Park Apartments--a public housing complex--in 1978. He also 
became a full-time codirector of the St. Francis Prayer Center in 1978.
  Sister Joanne, Father Phil, and the St. Francis Prayer Center have 
worked with neighborhood residents, civil rights groups, and 
environmentalists to raise awareness of the need for environmental 
equity. They have challenged the Federal Environmental Protection 
Agency and Michigan's Department of Natural Resources to do more to 
defend environmental quality in predominantly minority neighborhoods.
  As a result of their hard work, the EPA has selected Flint as one of 
nine sites across the country where violations of environmental equity 
are being investigated. Flint was selected as the first site of the 
nine due to the well organized grass roots appeal initiated by Father 
Phil and Sister Joanne.
  Mr. Speaker, the city of Flint is a better place to live in because 
of the good work of Sister Joanne, Father Phil and the St. Francis 
Prayer Center. They continue to stand as a symbol to all of the 
spirituality of St. Francis who saw all of us as part of the good gift 
of God's creation, to be kept clean, unpolluted, and preserved from 
exploitation.

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