[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 134 (Wednesday, September 25, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1695]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page E1695]]



         40TH ORDINATION ANNIVERSARY OF FATHER STANLEY CZARNOTA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DICK CHRYSLER

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 24, 1996

  Mr. CHRYSLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Father Stanley 
Czarnota.
  Father Stanley Czarnota was born in Wolka, Poland, in January of 1933 
in a small village located along the largest river in Poland. He is the 
youngest child of Frank and Helen, and he has two sisters, Mary and 
Jessica.
  Father Czarnota graduated from high school in 1951 and then attended 
Catholic Lubin University. In 1956, he received his degree in theology 
and was ordained a priest on December 22, 1956. He worked in Poland as 
an assistant pastor and then pastor at Borowicz, located near the 
Russian border.
  Relatives from both Fr. Czarnota's mother's and father's family 
reside in the United States. His father spent 10 years in Michigan 
before returning to Poland. In 1976, Father Czarnota's family came to 
America and fell in love with this country. After receiving permission 
from his bishop in Poland, Father Czarnota applied for permanent 
residence in the United States. He was accepted in the Lansing dioceses 
and began working in this area. On August 6, 1981, he became a citizen 
of the United States of America. He described the event as ``an 
unforgettable day, a very special day in my life, a day I will never 
forget and will always treasure.''
  Father Czarnota has always stated that he had the marvelous 
opportunity to repay this country for adopting him by accepting a 
commission in the U.S. Navy on May 15, 1988. On September 29, 1996, 
Father Czarnota will celebrate his 40th ordination anniversary as a 
priest.
  A former commanding officer in the Navy stated, ``Father Stanley no 
matter where he works has left a very important message with many 
people. No matter what task, and there are many in various areas, his 
work with the youth or older community have left a healthy and lasting 
impression of encouragement and always going out of his way to improve 
or be helpful with the individuals when needed.''
  Father Stanley Czarnota is well known in Flint, Ann Arbor, Detroit 
and Lansing for his work with the refugees from Poland. His work has 
been fulfilled when he saw newcomers pursue their dreams in America and 
succeed in many fields of work, not only for themselves, but also for 
their families.
  His motto is quite simple: ``Don't worry, be happy.''

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