[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 23, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1784-E1785]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 A TRIBUTE TO ST. ADALBERT CONGREGATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GERALD D. KLECZKA

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 23, 1998

  Mr. KLECZKA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to St. Adalbert 
Church in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the occasion of the 
congregation's 100th anniversary. I join with the Rev. Herbert B. 
Schubert and his parishioners in celebrating this very special event.
  The congregation was named in honor of St. Adalbert, a 10th Century 
patron saint of Bohemia and Poland. Its beginnings were rather humble, 
but with great determination and hard work, a small church was built in 
1898, with a rectory built two years later. Rev. Ladislaus Mscisz was 
St. Adalbert's first pastor, and served until 1912.
  By 1905, Franciscan Sisters of St. Francis replaced lay teachers, and 
the church and school were enlarged. Rev. Bernard Burant succeeded Rev. 
Mscisz, but remained only nine months, after which Rev. Clement Zych 
was appointed as the congregation's third pastor. Rev. Zych faithfully 
served St. Adalbert's for 24 years, and during that time the 
congregation continued to grow. By 1927, a new church, school and 
convent was built.
  The years following the stock market crash of 1929 were difficult for 
St. Adalbert's, but the congregation was determined to survive. With 
the depression came some very trying times, with increasing debts. In 
1937, Rev. Zych was transferred to St. Adalbert's in Milwaukee, and 
Rev. Ladislaus Bednarski became pastor. Druing Rev. Bednarski's tenure 
as pastor, the debt was refinanced, but problems remained.
  Rev. Theodore Lepak became pastor in 1950 after Rev. Bednarski was 
transferred to Blessed Sacrament in Milwaukee, but he became ill 
shortly thereafter and passed away in 1951. Rev. Michael Staczak was 
appointed pastor in 1951, and served until his retirement in 1975. 
During that time, due to the generosity of the congregation, the 
mounting parish debt was retired, and a new addition was added to the 
school. Unfortunately, shortly after completion, a gas explosion 
destroyed most of the new building. In 1968, the building was rebuilt 
and dedicated.
  In July of 1975, the present pastor, Rev. Herbert Schubert, was 
appointed by Archbishop William Cousins. Since then, St. Adalbert's has 
seen the addition of kindergarten and junior kindergarten classes, a 
new pipe organ, and a number of updates to the facilities.
  St. Adalbert Congregation has been truly blessed in 100 years of 
service to the Lord and to the community. Congratulations to St. 
Adalbert's and all its members on this very special anniversary. May 
the congregation continue to grow and prosper as it begins its second 
century of service.

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