[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 96 (Friday, July 21, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1285]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATIONS TO ARCHBISHOP REMBERT WEAKLAND ON RECEIVING THE VISION 
                          FOR MILWAUKEE AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GERALD D. KLECZKA

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 20, 2000

  Mr. KLECZKA. Mr. Speaker, today I honor the Reverend Rembert 
Weakland, Archbishop of Milwaukee's Catholic Archdiocese, who has been 
awarded the Milwaukee Ethnic Council's Vision for Milwaukee Award. Each 
year, this award is presented to an individual or organization for 
outstanding service to the community, and this year's recipient is 
certainly deserving of this prestigious honor.
  The Archbishop began his Religious Life as a Benedictine monk at 
Solesmes Abbey in France, and was ordained to the Priesthood in 1951 at 
Subiaco, Italy. His lifelong love of music led him to pursue musical 
studies in Europe, as well as at the prestigious Julliard School of 
Music in New York, and Columbia University, where he just recently 
received a Ph.D. ``with distinction'' in Musicology from Columbia 
University.
  First a music teacher at St. Vincent College, he went on to become 
Chancellor and Chairman of the Board of Directors. In 1967, he was 
elected Abbot Primate of the International Benedictine Confederation, 
and was appointed Chancellor of the International Benedictine College 
of Sant'Anselmo, Rome, Italy. On September 20th, 1977, Rembert Weakland 
was appointed Archbishop of Milwaukee by Pope Paul VI, and is the 
spiritual leader of nearly 700,000 Catholics in 10 Wisconsin counties.
  Although ``Srengthening bridges to harmony, respect and 
understanding'' is actually the Milwaukee Ethic Council's mission 
statement, it also very aptly describes Archbishop Weakland's life's 
work. For nearly 23 years, the Archbishop has served the people of this 
area with great integrity and humanity. He is one of our community's 
most respected leaders, by Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
  Archbishop Weakland has worked hard to strengthen dialogue between 
area Catholics and members of other denominations. He has fostered an 
atmosphere of understanding and cooperation amongst the faith community 
in our area.
  Always a strong advocate for social justice, the Archbishop has 
expanded the archdiocese's involvement in anti-poverty issues, 
providing assistance to inner city families in our area. One of his 
remaining goals in his final years before retirement is to get the 
Roman Catholic Church more involved in solving social problems in the 
central city. At a recent Jubilee-year gathering, Archbishop Weakland 
joined with other area Christian leaders in support of improved 
international debt relief for poor nations and increased assistance to 
the poor and disenfranchised in our own community.
  It is, therefore, quite fitting that the Milwaukee Ethic Council 
bestow the Vision for Milwaukee Award upon Archbishop Weakland, for he 
serves his Lord, his Church, and the people of Milwaukee with great 
vision and heart. Please join me in congratulating him on receiving 
this award, so richly deserved. May God's blessings continue to enrich 
his life and his ministry.

                          ____________________