[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 24, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E539]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMEMORATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF FR. GILBERT G. ARCISZEWSKI'S 
                          PRIESTLY ORDINATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GERALD D. KLECZKA

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 24, 1999

  Mr. KLECZKA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Fr. Gilbert G. 
Arciszewski, pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church on the 
40th anniversary of his priestly ordination.
  Fr. Arciszewski is representative of the high caliber of priests from 
the Milwaukee Archdiocese. He is a lifelong resident of the community 
and has served in leadership positions of various churches in the 
Milwaukee area since his ordination.
  Fr. Arciszewski is a product of Milwaukee's near South Side. He is 
proud of his Polish-American heritage. He and his predecessor, the late 
Msgr. Alphonse Popek, traveled many of the same paths to Queen of Peace 
church, growing up in the same neighborhoods, and going to the same 
schools, beginning with St. Adalbert's elementary. The Popek and 
Arciszewski families lived only a few blocks from each other.
  Fr. Arciszewski studied canon law at St. Francis Seminary and was 
ordained May 30, 1959 at St. John Cathedral by Archbishop William E. 
Cousins. He served as associate pastor of St. Helen, Milwaukee, June 
1959 to July, 1966, and St. Alexander, Milwaukee, July, 1966 to March, 
1975, when he became pastor of St. Casimir.
  By coincidence, the celebration of his 25th anniversary of ordination 
in 1984 coincided with the 500th anniversary of the death of St. 
Casimir.
  In February of 1987, Fr. Arciszewski was assigned pastor of Our Lady 
Queen of Peace Catholic Church where he has served since. Among the 
many milestones observed at Our Lady Queen of Peace was the marriage of 
Frankie Yankovic, the polka legend, to his wife Ida.
  Mr. Speaker, on this the 40th anniversary of his ordination, I would 
like to recognize the contributions and commitment to the church and 
community demonstrated by Fr. Arciszewski.

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