[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 53 (Monday, May 4, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E749]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TO COMMEMORATE MONSIGNOR JOHN A. BURNS ON HIS 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF 
                      ORDINATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CHARLES E. SCHUMER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 4, 1998

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in sending 
warm wishes to Monsignor John A. Burns on the occasion of his 50th 
Anniversary of Ordination to the priesthood.
  Monsignor Burns was ordained as a priest on May 22, 1948. He 
celebrated his first Mass at Incorporation Parish, where he had 
previously served faithfully as an alter boy for over a decade. Msgr. 
Burn's first assignment was to St. Ephrem's in Bay Ridge. He spent 17 
years there. After that the Monsignor spent four years at the Guardian 
Angel Parish and five years at St. Sebastion's in Woodside.
  Then in June 1974 Monsignor Burns received his first pastorate at 
Mary Queen of Heaven. Over the next 23 years he helped create many 
social as well as spiritual groups, including strong senior citizen 
groups, a sports program for children from grammer school through high 
school, a drama club, travel group, and an arts and ceramic group. On 
May 22, 1988 Msgr. Burns was elevated to Monsignor on the same day he 
celebrated his fortieth anniversary of priestly ordination. Over the 
years of his priestly endeavors as pastor of Mary Queen of Heaven 
Church have been spent in unceasing efforts to imbue the community with 
a rich spiritual life, as well as beautify the church.
  I would like to take this time to say that we should not let this 
anniversary be a celebration of how many years Monsignor has served. 
Rather it should be a celebration of the events and actions that the 
Monsignor has been a part of over the years. He has been an 
inspirational figure to us all.
  Congratulations, Monsignor Burns, on the occasion of your 50th 
anniversary of ordination to the priesthood.

                          ____________________