[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 79 (Monday, June 7, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1139-E1140]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         MASAKOWSKI ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, June 7, 1999

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my long 
time friend, Monsignor John C. Masakowski, who celebrated the 50th 
anniversary of his Ordination on June 4, 1999. It is my pleasure to 
have been invited to participate in this milestone celebration.
  Monsignor Masakowski, or Father John as he is affectionately known to 
his parishioners, is the son of the late John and Stasia Gorney 
Masakowski. He was born in my hometown of Nanticoke in 1924 and 
educated in our local schools. Father John left the area to receive his 
degree in philosophy at St. Mary's College in Orchard Lake, Michigan 
and his degree in theology from SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary, also 
in Orchard Lake. He was ordained at St. Peter's Cathedral of Scranton 
by the late Bishop William Hafey.
  Father's first assignment was at St. Mary's parish in Swoyersville, 
where he served for ten years. Father John, along with the help of 
Judge Bernard Brominski, established the Assumpta Council of the 
Knights of Columbus and served as the Council's chaplain.
  Father John served as secretary to Bishop Henry Klonowski at 
Scranton's Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary parish for the next several 
years before serving at St. Mary's Church in Wilkes-Barre. He was 
assigned as the administrator of St. Mary's Church in Wanamie and later 
as administrator of St. Joseph's Church in Hanover, where he oversaw 
the extensive remodeling and repairs of the church building.
  In 1971, Father John became the twelfth pastor of his present church, 
Larksville's St. John the Baptist Church. Father John has had the 
church remodeled and refurbished during his tenure at St. John's and 
built a chapel in the parish cemetery in 1985. He reorganized the 
parish societies and reinstated the locally-famous parish picnic. Not 
long after he came to St. John's, he organized the construction of a 
grotto to Our Lady of the Pines. In 1983, he organized the Fourth 
Degree Assembly in honor of Our Lady of Czestochowa.
  Mr. Speaker, the beautiful St. John's Church is a landmark in 
Larksville due to the labors of the church's dedicated parish leader. 
His church and parish have always remained his top priority. On July 
10, 1990, Father John was rewarded for his dedication with his 
designation as Monsignor Masakowski.
  I have always considered Monsignor Masakowski to be a close family 
friend and have appreciated the warm welcome I always receive when 
visiting. Father John's extraordinary sensitivity was demonstrated to 
me when he offered me great comfort by participating in my mother's 
funeral mass. I will always be grateful for the warmth and kindness of 
that gesture.
  As St. John the Baptist Church celebrates its Centennial Celebration 
his year, I am pleased and proud to join with all of my friends at the 
parish in congratulating Monsignor Masakowski on his milestone 
anniversary. I send my very best wishes to this beloved and respected 
man.

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