[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 117 (Friday, August 2, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1475-E1476]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     PASTOR TO MANY, FRIEND TO ALL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 2, 1996

  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I bring to the 
attention to the U.S. House of Representatives and this Nation not just 
the announcement of the retirement of an outstanding member of the 
clergy in my Northern Michigan congressional district, but that I have 
the opportunity to relay to you the many contributions that Reverend 
Edwin J. Frederick has made to his faith, community, and priesthood.
  Most affectionately known to all as Father Fred, he attended grade 
school and high school in his home town of Grand Rapids and later 
earned a Bachelor's degree at Sacred Heart in Detroit. Post graduate 
work earned him a Masters degree in Philosophy and Theology at Grand 
Seminary, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. On June 3, 1950, he was ordained a 
Roman Catholic priest.

[[Page E1476]]

  During the 1950's, Father Fred was assigned to various churches in 
Michigan including Sacred Heart in Mt. Pleasant, St. Joseph's Church in 
Manistee, St. Michael's in Muskegon, and Our Lady of Assumption in 
Rothbury. After completing one year at the Carmelite Monastery in 
Traverse City in 1960, Father Fred was then assigned to the Traverse 
City Regional Psychiatric Hospital where he remained from 1959 until 
the hospital closed in 1989.
  For the past six years, Father Fred has served as Pastor of St. 
Joseph's parish in Mapleton, MI. It has been at St. Joseph's Parish 
where Father Fred has done his best work. As pastor, he has made 
numerous physical improvements to the parish and provided accessibility 
to the facilities for the physically impaired.
  Father Fred has touched many, many people over the years, but no one 
will question the tremendous influence he has had on and the love he 
has for children. He has baptized over 200 children in his last six 
years at St. Joseph's and truly considers them to be the lifeblood of 
the church and her future. The children of the parish, like the adults 
there and elsewhere, consider Father Fred to be more than their priest: 
they think of him as their friend.
  Father Fred has truly made his mark on society with his extensive 
work and effort on behalf of the needy. After the hospital closed in 
1989, he founded the Father Fred Foundation, an organization that 
provides food and clothing to those in need. The foundation has gown 
from what was a very small office to what is now a large building with 
over 100 volunteers. Fortunately for the foundation, he will continue 
to serve as its director after his retirement.
  Father Fred reminds us every Thanksgiving that it is better ``to 
serve than to receive'' by hosting dinner at one of the area's finest 
restaurants, not for his parishioners, but for the needy. Father Fred 
recruits elected government leaders, community and business leaders as 
servers for his guests.
  Father Fred has been recognized by numerous organizations for his 
work, including the Traverse City Chamber of Commerce who presented him 
in 1991 with the Distinguished Service Award. He is also the recipient 
of the Sara Hardy Memorial Award in recognition of his work on behalf 
of human rights.
  In the book of Hebrews it states, ``one does not take this honor on 
his own initiative, but only when called upon by God, as Aaron was * * 
* you are a priest forever.'' Father Fred has been called by God to be 
a spiritual leader and a humanitarian and has fulfilled each of those 
callings now and forever.
  Mr. Speaker, Father Fred will be honored at a retirement dinner on 
August 11, 1996 at the Grand Traverse Resort in Traverse City, 
Michigan. At that time, past and present parishioners, friends and 
family will thank him for all that he has done for them and so many 
others. On behalf of northern Michigan, the entire State and this 
House, I thank Father Fred for his contributions to so many causes and 
extend to him best wishes for an enjoyable retirement from the church 
and for many years to come as Director of the Father Fred Foundation.

                          ____________________