[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 34 (Tuesday, March 24, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E447-E448]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN HONOR OF ST. PATRICK'S PARISH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 24, 1998

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 
sesquincentennial of St. Patrick's Parish, one of Cleveland's foremost 
Catholic congregations. During its tenure, St. Patrick's has served as 
a beacon for the religious community of West Park in Cleveland and, 
recently, has taken numerous steps to service the people of the 
community.
  St. Patrick's Parish was founded on March 17, 1848 in the home of 
Morgan Waters, a humble beginning for the church. In the first years of 
its existence, St. Patrick's was a parish without a home, but the 
generosity of many in its congregation served its spacial needs. In 
1851, Patrick Lahiff donated a half-acre of land and after three years 
of construction, a wood frame church was built. The parish school was 
founded a few years later and several groups of Cleveland-area sisters 
such as the Sisters of Notre Dame and the Ursulan Sisters were brought 
in to educate the students.
  After years of service to the parish community, the old wood church 
was torn down in favor of a large, impressive, spacious stone church. 
The new building was dedicated in 1898 and has continued to serve as a 
sanctuary for the community until this day. The parish received its 
first resident pastor in 1910 and has continued to grow in its 
population ever since.

[[Page E448]]

  The main focus of St. Patrick's in this century has been service to 
the community. During the Great Depression, the parish operated a 
school and tried to feed the hungry and cold of the area. St. Patrick's 
Hunger Center was installed many years later as a way to continue 
service to the less fortunate of the community. Also, a parish council 
was established to better service the congregation of St. Patrick's.
  St. Patrick's has clearly been a beacon for the community of West 
Park in Cleveland during its 150 year existence. My fellow colleagues, 
join me in saluting a gem of the West Park neighborhood, St. Patrick's 
Parish.

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