[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 130 (Friday, September 25, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1808]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL PARISH

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                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 25, 1998

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my best wishes to 
the community of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish. For more than a 
century, this parish has served as a spiritual refuge, opening its 
doors to any soul in search of peace.
  In the spring of 1873, led by Father Patrick F. Quigley, the Catholic 
Diocese of Cleveland established a mission in the village of Brooklyn, 
Ohio. The community's first mass was held at the local public school, 
but by 1874, it celebrated the blessing of the cornerstone of its first 
church, the Sacred Heart of Mary Mission. As the parish flourished, the 
Cleveland Diocese elevated the community to parochial status in 1894, 
appointing Father Michael Becker as its first pastor and opening the 
Sacred Heart of Mary School.
  Unfortunately, in 1907, an accident caused a fire that destroyed the 
church and the school. While rebuilding took place, the parish 
continued to celebrate mass in the town hall. By August 15, 1909 the 
new church was finished with a new pastor, Father Luke Rath. During the 
next eight years, the parish population grew, causing the community to 
expand their church with a new sister's house, mission house, and 
portable school buildings to serve 385 students. Father Rath presided 
over the dedication ceremony, where the community changed its name to 
Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish.
  The current church was dedicated in 1930, a beautiful building which 
includes a soaring bell tower modeled after that of Sancto Spiritu 
Church in Florence, Italy. Although it struggled during the Great 
Depression, the parish maintained a social life, sponsoring a variety 
of plays, operettas, and card parties. The community also added a 
bowling alley, a cafeteria, and a new school addition.
  My fellow colleagues, please join me in honoring the Our Lady of Good 
Counsel Parish and its current pastor Father Leroy Moreeuw, CPPS as 
they celebrate in commemoration of 150 years in service to God. 
Throughout its long history, the parish has undergone many changes, but 
the spirit and dedication of its members have remained constant. As the 
Cleveland Diocese celebrates its sesquicentennial anniversary, Our Lady 
of Good Counsel Parish remains a beacon of solace and friendship for 
its members and the residents of Cleveland's Old Brooklyn neighborhood.

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