[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 130 (Thursday, September 19, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1661]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE SACRED HEART CENTENNIAL TRIBUTE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 19, 1996

  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride I bring to the 
attention of the House and the entire Nation the 100th anniversary of 
the founding of The Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Family Church, in 
Munsing, MI.
  From its humble beginnings in a community town hall, where Father 
Anthony Molinari spoke with his congregation from atop a piano for lack 
of a pulpit, The Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish has grown over the last 
100 years to become an integral part of our community.
  Sacred Heart Church was founded in the fall of 1896 to meet the 
spiritual needs of rapidly expanding Munsing. The first pastor, Father 
Anthony Molinari, started the church and spearheaded the initial 
fundraising efforts to build a permanent sanctuary. To accomplish this, 
the parish hosted benefit dinners with the slogan: ``A hot meal 
guaranteed to satisfy, for the price of 25 cents''. Their first benefit 
alone raised $600.
  By the following fall, construction on a permanent building began and 
the church was finished in the spring of 1898. It was a small wooden 
structure with a towering belfry and living quarters for the priest. On 
September 11, 1898, the church was consecrated the Most Sacred Heart of 
Jesus.
  During the following years, the church continued to grow along with 
the community. A new pipe organ was installed, a Belgian bell was added 
to the belfry, and a parochial school was build. The Sacred Heart 
School, offering 8 grades, opened in 1914 with 316 students enrolled. 
The church also added a convent for the Sisters of St. Dominic in 1924.
  On April 27, 1933 The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus was destroyed by a 
devastating fire which started by a spark in the chimney. The church 
was completely demolished, and only the Blessed Sacrament was salvaged. 
Construction on a new church did not begin until the summer of 1949, 
and the cornerstone was finally laid on September 4 of that year. On 
the Feast of the Sacrament, June 19, 1950, the new church was 
dedicated.
  In the spring of 1970, the Sacred Heart School was closed after 56 
years of operation. To replace it, the Confraternity Christian Doctrine 
[CCD] program began the following October. Under the leadership of 
Brother Felix Butzman, of the Christian Brothers, 500 students were 
able to continue their religious instruction under the program which 
allowed students to be released early from public schools to attend CCD 
classes.
  Since 1975, The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus has been under the 
spiritual leadership of Father Tim Desrochersm, Father Vincent 
Ouellette, and Father Raymond Moncher along with a caring parish staff. 
During these years, the church has continued to flourish and evolve. 
Improvements include a thriving choir under the leadership of Theresa 
Chartier, a barrier-free entrance for wheel-chair bound members of the 
congregation, a new Rogers electronic-pipe organ, religious education 
classrooms, and the renovation of the Sacred Heart School building into 
low-income senior citizen housing.

  The Sacred Heart of Jesus Church reaches out into the community 
through its ministries to the Munsing Hospital, the Superior Health 
Haven, Superior Shores Nursing Center, Cusino Corrections Facility, and 
Alger Maximum Security Prison Facility in addition to their own 
congregation. They also provide religious instruction to adults, teens, 
and children.
  Mr. Speaker, The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Church has provided a 
place of prayer, hope, and faith for the Munsing community throughout 
their 100-year history. The clergy and congregation have worked 
together to form a long-lasting institution of religious faith in this 
community. On behalf of the Upper Peninsula, State of Michigan, and the 
entire Nation. I would like to congratulate The Most Sacred Heart of 
Jesus Church on their 100-year anniversary and I wish them peace, joy, 
and happiness now and for future generations.

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