[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 29 (Tuesday, March 17, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S2143]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        ST. PATRICK AND TWO VENERABLE NEW YORK CITY INSTITUTIONS

 Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, I rise on this great day in honor 
of Ireland's legendary saint and pay special tribute to two venerable 
New York City institutions bearing his name. St. Patrick's Old 
Cathedral, dedicated in 1815, and St. Patrick's Old Cathedral School, 
opened in 1822, have served the citizens of New York for nearly two 
centuries.
  Throughout the Cathedral and School's history, Old St. Patrick's 
priests, nuns, parishioners and students have contributed so very much 
to the betterment of New York City. Most famously, Saint Patrick's 
parishioners and their erstwhile leader Bishop John Hughes helped 
define the course of American immigration in the 1830's when they 
refused to let nativists prevent Catholics, mostly poor Irish at the 
time, from establishing themselves in New York City. Their heroic 
efforts included an 1835 standoff in front of Saint Patrick's in which 
an anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant mob gathered to destroy the Cathedral. 
The Cathedral stood, and with it America's first large immigrant 
population.
  Nearby, Saint Patrick's Old Cathedral School has served as a lead 
model for many of New York City's parochial schools. Founded by the 
Sisters of Charity, the schoolhouse on Mott Street has offered for 176 
years the hope and opportunity of a strong education to tens of 
thousands of mostly poor, immigrant students.
  Recently, I had the good fortune to revisit Saint Patrick's Old 
Cathedral and the Old Cathedral School and am delighted to report that 
these institutions remain remarkably unchanged in their caring mission 
and spirit. The good works abound under the leadership of a newly 
appointed pastor, Father Keith Fennessy. I look forward to working with 
him and others in celebrating next year's two hundred and fiftieth 
anniversary of Lorenzo Da Ponte's birth. Da Ponte, who was Mozart's 
librettist, was a parishioner, and his funeral mass was celebrated at 
Old St. Patrick's. Unfortunately, Da Ponte, like Mozart, ended up in a 
mass grave. Next year provides the nation a chance to celebrate the 
life of one of the greatest librettists, and one of the most 
influential Italian-Americans in our history. I eagerly anticipate my 
return to Old St. Patrick's for these events.
  By serving the surrounding neighborhoods, Saint Patrick's Old 
Cathedral and Saint Patrick's Old Cathedral School remain as vital as 
they were almost two centuries ago. Thus, I extend my gratitude to 
these institutions for their vital work on this great day of thanks for 
their patron saint, St. Patrick.

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