[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 32 (Thursday, March 13, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E459-E460]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO MSGR. DANIEL J. BOURKE, GRAND MARSHAL OF THE 
             173D ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE IN SAVANNAH, GA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACK KINGSTON

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 13, 1997

  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, in honor of his dedication to preserving 
Irish culture, tradition, and history, Monsignor Bourke has been named 
grand marshal of the 173d St. Patrick's Day Parade in Savannah, GA. The 
parade is the cornerstone of one of the largest St. Patrick's Day 
celebrations in the Nation and is a fitting tribute for a man who has 
given so much to preserve the heritage of his native land and equally 
as much to the advancement of the country and city he now calls home.

                   Hibernian Society of Savannah, GA

       ``Irishmen, inclined as they are by nature to good 
     fellowship and charity, should not forget, in a foreign land, 
     the duties they owe to themselves, their national character, 
     and their distressed countrymen. These obligations are the 
     more important to Irishmen, because, during the long period 
     of their oppression, Irishmen have been useful to themselves, 
     their country, and their brethren, only in proportion to 
     their exercise of those generous, charitable and sterling 
     traits with which it has pleased God to distinguish them 
     among the people of the earth. Every motive, too, presses 
     itself upon the heart of each true Irishman to foster more 
     particularly unfortunate because her destiny has been 
     unmerited, and therefore the more entitled to the tender 
     consideration of her own sons, and of the good, the generous 
     and the enlightened of other nationalities.''
       ``Driven from unhappy Erin by unrelenting tyranny, 
     afflicted and persecuted Irishmen seek an asylum in this 
     favored republic, endeavoring to find, under the auspices of 
     its liberal institutions, the only consolations that can 
     remain to exiles thrust out of a beloved home by want and 
     oppression. To these it becomes the duty of their more 
     fortunate brethren settled in this free country, and enjoying 
     the benefits of its hospitality, to reach out the hand of 
     friendship, to tender the aid of a delicate charity, and to 
     offer any other assistance which fraternal, manly and kindly 
     feelings may inspire.''
       The above two paragraphs comprise the Preamble of the 
     Hibernian Society of Savannah which was adopted at a meeting 
     held on March 17, 1812.
       The Hibernian Society of Savannah, celebrating its 185th 
     Anniversary on March 17, 1997, would like to give special 
     recognition to Monsignor Daniel J. Bourke who is the Grand 
     Marshal of the 173rd St. Patrick's Day Parade in Savannah. 
     Monsignor Bourke was born in Birr, Offaly County, Ireland on 
     September 28, 1909. He was ordained to the priesthood at All 
     Hallows Missionary Seminary in Dublin on June 23, 1934, for 
     the Diocese of Savannah. He has given 63 years of dedicated 
     service to the area of South Georgia and continues to service 
     the needs of the people in Savannah even though he is retired 
     and resides at Blessed Sacrament Church.

[[Page E460]]

     Monsignor Bourke has held numerous positions within the 
     Diocese of Savannah during his tenure of service. He was 
     named a Domestic Prelate on March 20, 1959 and Prothonotary 
     Apostolic on October 11, 1966. He has been associated with 
     the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women since its introduction 
     to the diocese in 1938, serving as parish, deanery and 
     diocesan moderator. At present he is the Honorary Diocesan 
     Moderator. From the time of his arrival in Savannah in 
     September, 1936, he has been closely identified with the 
     Irish element. While Irish to the backbone, he is proud to 
     have been for fifty years a citizen of the United States of 
     America. He has lived in Georgia since 1934, and over thirty-
     three of those years in Savannah. He has participated in 
     nearly every parade since his return to Savannah in 1970. He 
     thanks God that he is a Savannahian and in his letter to the 
     citizens of Savannah upon his selection as Grand Marshal he 
     wrote the following words:
       ``We of Irish birth or lineage honor this day in the memory 
     of St. Patrick who brought the Catholic faith to Ireland so 
     long ago.'' We honor our forebears who have, in spite of 
     centuries long persecutions, remained faithful to the 
     teachings of St. Patrick. We renew our allegiance to these 
     United States of America, where our people sought and found a 
     harbor of refuge, a land, ``Where rich and poor stand equal 
     in the light of freedom's day.''

                          ____________________