[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 129 (Wednesday, September 24, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1833]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page E1833]]

 THE 85TH ANNIVERSARY OF ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER CROATIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 23, 1997

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to congratulate 
St. Joseph the Worker Croatian Catholic Church in Gary, IN, as it 
celebrates its 85th anniversary as a parish this Sunday, September 28, 
1997. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Father 
Benedict J. Benakovic, parish pastor, on this special occasion. The 
85th anniversary festivities will begin with a Mass of Thanksgiving at 
11 a.m. at the church, celebrated by the Most Reverend Dale J. Melczek, 
Bishop of Gary. After the service, a banquet will be held at the 
Croatian Center in Merrillville, IN.
  I would also like to commend the members of the St. Joseph the Worker 
Parish Council for the work they have put forth in the planning of this 
momentous event. Members of the 1997 parish council include: Fred 
Benich, John Benich, Frank Bestich, Peter Bianco, Francis X. Coman, 
Mary Coman, Charles Doherty, Antoinette Dorochoff, George Flores, Irene 
Flores, Charlene Gyurko, Mary Horan, Patricia Howorth, Sophia Kruzic, 
Jasmine Kuyachich, Mary Mandly, Richard Mandly, Ann C. Marlow, Marta 
McCobb, Karl Metz, Marie Michalak, Marian Nicksich, Peter Podnar, Ann 
Wozniak, Charles Yelusich, and Paul Yurkas.
  The founding of St. Joseph the Worker Croatian Catholic Church began 
in 1906 with the arrival of Croatian immigrants to the growing city of 
Gary, IN. A mixture of small business owners and steel workers, the 
immigrants immediately experienced prejudices and a language barrier. 
To foster a sense of belonging and community, they colonized and sought 
a parish of their own, where the church services would be spoken in 
their native language. With a large donation from the Gary Land Co., a 
Croatian Catholic church, called Holy Trinity, was built in 1913.
  Holy Trinity Church, which would later be named St. Joseph the 
Worker, prospered over the years with the hard work of its clergy and 
parishioners. Shortly after the church's founding, Rev. Charles Jesih 
of Croatia began St. Joseph's expansion when he founded a parochial 
school for the education of the parish's youth. In 1919, a three-room 
school opened in the church hall, and, in 1921, a convent was completed 
to accommodate the nuns who taught at the school. With the onset of the 
Depression, the parish encountered problems of debt and the relocation 
of parishioners to the Glen Park area of Gary. By the 1940's, it had 
become apparent that the church would need to relocate, and in spite of 
the debt incurred during the Depression, construction of a new church, 
school, and convent was completed in 1945. As the parish continued to 
grow, it was determined in 1950 that an even larger church would be 
needed to accommodate new parishioners of different nationalities. 
Under the leadership of Father Venceslav Ardas, funds were secured from 
individual parishioners and church organizations for the construction 
of what would become a beautiful Romanesque style church. The church 
was completed in 1956, and consecrated St. Joseph the Worker in May of 
that year.
  Since its founding, St. Joseph the Worker has continued to celebrate 
its Croatian heritage as an integral part of parish religious and 
social life. Over the years, ties to Croatia were maintained with the 
dedicated service of Croatian-born pastors, the preservation of masses 
in the Croatian language, and a concern for events transpiring in the 
homeland. With the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia, St. Joseph 
the Worker parishioners eagerly joined Croatians throughout the world 
in providing humanitarian aid to victims of the war-torn region. In the 
early 1990's, the parish celebrated both the recognition of Croatia as 
an independent nation and the visit of Cardinal Franjo Kuharic, 
Archbishop of Zagreb. The founding of such social organizations as the 
Croatian Catholic Union and the American Croatians United also 
contributed to the preservation of the Croatian heritage in the Gary 
community. Through the dedication of St. Joseph parishioners, these 
organizations sponsored numerous festivals and projects, which have 
served to introduce traditional Croatian food, music, and customs to 
future generations.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join 
me in congratulating the St. Joseph the Worker parish on the 85th 
anniversary of its founding. As someone of Croatian descent, I commend 
the leadership that past and present parishioners and clergy have 
displayed in preserving their ethnicity while faithfully fulfilling the 
ideals of their Catholic religion. I wish St. Joseph the Worker parish 
continued prosperity and many blessings for a bright future.

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