[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 93 (Friday, June 27, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1340]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN HONOR OF BISHOP FREDERIC BARAGA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 26, 1997

  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I have the opportunity this weekend to 
attend an unusual birthday party in my congressional district in 
Michigan for a very special individual. This month we celebrate the 
birth of Frederic Baraga, born 200 years ago in a town called Mala vas 
in what is now the independent nation of Slovenia.
  Frederic Baraga was a pioneer who wandered in the wilds of the Great 
Lakes area in the early 1800's, braving the snows and bitter winters, 
the swamps, and swarms of insects of Michigan, Wisconsin, and 
Minnesota.
  Frederic Baraga was a teacher; a learned man who mastered Slovenian, 
English, Latin, German, French, and Italian, he went on to speak the 
native American Ojibwa language, eventually writing a grammar and an 
Ojibwa dictionary that is still in use today.
  Frederic Baraga was a missionary, whose work was God's work. He left 
a family that had gained a title of nobility in Europe, taking the vow 
of poverty and accepting the dangers of a new world to bring the 
Christian faith to the New World, America.
  Frederic Baraga was a man, with the afflictions and failings of a 
man, but he was unique in his dedication to his mission and to his 
faith. The dedication of this man, who stood 5 feet, 4 inches tall and 
referred to himself as ``the little missionary,'' has earned the love 
and respect of the people of northern Michigan, who are supporting 
efforts to canonize him a saint in the Catholic Church.
  There are many details of his life which have been passed down to us, 
tales of his falling through thin ice in mid-winter on his religious 
rounds, stories that paint a picture of a man with a twinkle in his eye 
and a tendency to break up a long day of work or travel with a midday 
nap. With these anecdotes we catch a glimpse through the mists of 
history of a real person, not merely a symbol of an ideal.
  Mr. Speaker, we in northern Michigan look at Bishop Frederic Baraga 
as more than just our native son. A man of Europe, later a man of the 
native American people of the Great Lakes area, he may finally become a 
man of the world, whose humility, dedication, commitment to learning, 
and qualities of character are a model for all of mankind, yesterday, 
today, and tomorrow.
  The nation of Slovenia has honored Bishop Baraga with a commemorative 
stamp. I have asked the U.S. Postal Service to give new consideration 
to a similar honor. I know this review process takes time, but I and 
the supporters of the efforts to honor Bishop Baraga, look forward to 
the day when we can send our invitations to another birthday party for 
this very special individual with stamps bearing his visage.

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