[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 143 (Sunday, October 11, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2067]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HOLY ROSARY CELEBRATES 90TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES H. MALONEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Saturday, October 10, 1998

  Mr. MALONEY of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, it is with great joy that I 
bring to the attention of the House of Representatives and the American 
public the celebration in my congressional district of the 90th 
Anniversary of Holy Rosary Parish in Ansonia, Connecticut.
  In the very early 1900's, the rather large Catholic Italian community 
of Ansonia was served by another local parish that was first formed by 
Irish immigrants. Church leaders in Hartford recognized the distinct 
cultural and language differences in the existing parish and moved to 
create a new one. And, on October 4, 1908, the Feast of the Holy 
Rosary, Reverend Bonforti celebrated the first Mass for the Ansonia 
Italian community and took the name, Holy Rosary, in honor of the feast 
day.
  Over the next several decades, the Church continued to grow and serve 
the community. Many people played a major role in this growth process, 
including the Reverend Peter Manfredi, who on April 3, 1913, was 
assigned to the church as its administrator and served in this capacity 
for over forty years. While ministering to the needs of the 
parishioners, he gave the church a firm foundation that helped guide it 
through some very difficult times. Reverend Anthony Salemi came to Holy 
Rosary in July, 1954. Through his enthusiasm and spiritual dedication, 
he led the church for the next decade, and most notably, through the 
rigors of purchasing and paying off their first church building. Miss 
Annie Larkin, a lay person, established the religious education program 
as well as most other church parish organizations and served the church 
as a Sunday school teacher for more than thirty years.
  The Reverend Vincent Iannetta, who served as pastor for thirty years 
starting in June, 1965, provided the leadership that led to a new 
church and under whose tenure the parish truly matured. Father Ronald 
Genua now serves as pastor and in just three short years has touched 
and enriched the lives of parishioners throughout the congregation.
  Mr. Speaker, Holy Rosary is a mainstay of the community and serves 
this diverse parish well. On behalf of the 5th Congressional District 
and the House of Representatives, I congratulate all parishioners and 
clergy, past and present, on this 90th Anniversary and send best wishes 
for a very successful celebration and all continued success.

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