[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 123 (Tuesday, September 21, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1908]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ST. MARY'S CENTENNIAL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 21, 1999

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of 
my colleagues St. Mary's Polish National Catholic Church in Duryea, 
Pennsylvania. The parish will celebrate its Centennial Anniversary with 
a banquet this month and I am proud to have been asked to participate 
in this event.
  In the nineteenth century, many immigrants from Eastern Europe 
flocked to Northeastern Pennsylvania to pursue the American dream of 
religious and economic freedom. In 1897, a group of Polish immigrants 
in the area found a true leader in a young priest named Francis Hodur. 
He guided them spiritually and, under his leadership, a ``mother 
church'' was founded in Scranton. Today, this beautiful church is known 
to all as St. Stanislaus Cathedral.
  A year later, another group of Polish Catholics invited Father Hodur 
to help them organize their own parish. They applied for a charter and 
in September of 1899, a charter was granted to Saint Mary's Polish 
National Catholic Church. Through the hard work and dedication of the 
parish, a new church was built and dedicated by 1908. While renovating 
and improving the original church building over the years, the parish 
has striven to keep and restore the beautiful original statues, altars, 
and other church artifacts.
  Mr. Speaker, this proud parish in Duryea has much to celebrate. The 
hard working, dedicated parishioners at this beautiful church 
contribute to the fine quality of life that we enjoy in Northeastern 
Pennsylvania. Father Thadeusz Klucek and the church's members help to 
continue the traditions of the country of their ancestors so that 
generations to come will feel the spirit and dedication of the small 
group of Polish immigrants who founded St. Mary's. I am pleased to have 
had this opportunity to bring this proud church's history to the 
attention of my colleagues and send my heartiest congratulations and 
best wishes to everyone at St. Mary's Polish National Catholic Church.

                          ____________________