[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 67 (Tuesday, May 11, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E918-E919]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 COMMEMORATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORDINATION OF REV. ERWIN E. 
                                MOGILKA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GERALD D. KLECZKA

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 11, 1999

  Mr. KLECZKA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Rev. Erwin E. Mogilka 
who marks the 50th anniversary of his priestly ordination on May 28th. 
``Father Erv's'' history is a lifelong testament to devotion to his 
religion and his community.
  Born at his home on the south side of Milwaukee, Erwin E. Mogilka was 
baptized April 13, 1924 at St. Josaphat Basilica in Milwaukee. He 
attended St. Josaphat Basilica elementary school, received his first 
Holy Communion on June 11, 1933, and was confirmed on May 13, 1936.
  After graduating from St. Stanislaus High School, Erwin Mogilka 
attended the St. Francis Minor Seminary and the St. Francis Major 
Seminary from 1942 to 1949. He was ordained May 28, 1949 at St. John's 
Cathedral by the Most Rev. Moses E. Kiley, Archbishop. Fr. Mogilka held 
his first Mass the next day at St. Josaphat Basilica.
  On July 7, 1949 Rev. Mogilka was assigned associate pastor to St. 
Adalbert parish, Milwaukee, where he assisted with remodeling the 
school and church. On July 6, 1961 Rev. Mogilka was assigned associate 
pastor to St. Roman Parish, Milwaukee, to be tutored under the auspices 
of Rev. Maximilian L. Adamski. Friends note, however, that Fr. Erv's 
transfer did not become effective until he completed scraping, scaling 
and painting the hull of the boat belonging to Msgr. Clement J. Zych of 
St. Adalbert.
  At St. Roman's, Rev. Mogilka supervised and coordinated the 
remodeling of the school, church, rectory, convent and grounds, and, 
according to friends, became something of a ``con artist'' because of 
his knack to enlist tradesmen to donate their services through which 
the parish saved many thousands of dollars. And Fr. Erv worked beside 
them. It was not uncommon to see him climbing the scaffolding in church 
to the latest remodeling project.
  While overseeing the remodeling of the physical plant at St. Roman's, 
Fr. Erv also was shepherd to the spiritual well-being of the 
parishioners, administering to the sick, the elderly, the disabled, the 
poor and the lonely.
  On June 17, 1969, Rev. Mogilka was assigned as pastor of St. Joseph 
Parish, Racine, Wisconsin, where he served until his retirement in 
1992. Among the many awards and recognitions that he has received was 
the 1997 Priest of the Year Award from the Racine Sienna Club.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with pride and humility that I commemorate, on the 
jubilee anniversary of his ordination, Rev. Erwin E. Mogilka, an 
honorable and compassionate man, who has done so much good for so many.

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