[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 124 (Friday, October 6, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S10080]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   THE 150TH BIRTHDAY OF ST. CLEMENT CATHOLIC CHURCH IN CENTER LINE, 
                                MICHIGAN

 Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize St. 
Clement Catholic Church in Center Line, Michigan, which will celebrate 
150 years of service to the Warren and Center Line communities with an 
anniversary mass on October 15, 2000. The story of St. Clement is one 
of continual adaptation and growth, but through it all the spirit that 
existed in 1850 remains today, for the church has never stayed from its 
original purpose of teaching the timeless lessons of faith and love.
  The perfect illustration of how important St. Clement is to the 
Warren and Center Line communities can be seen in how many times it has 
been forced to be reconstructed. In 1857, a school was added to the 
church. After expansions to the original building in 1868 and 1879, the 
growing size of the congregation forced a new building to be 
constructed in 1880. In 1922, a new school had to be built to 
accommodate the growing number of students, and, ultimately, another 
school was constructed anew in 1953. In May of 1960, ground broke on 
the present church building. It is an extraordinary piece of 
architecture, a Cruciform-shaped structure with a 65 foot high vaulted 
ceiling, gables that form a cross, hundreds of stain-glassed panes, a 
main altar of imported marble, a seating capacity of over 1,600 
worshippers and two cry rooms.
  An essential part of the success of St. Clement Church has been its 
leadership. From 1868-1890, Father William Hendrix guided the growing 
church to the point where it had firmly established its presence as the 
center of social activity in the Warren and Center Line communities. 
From 1890-1929, Father John Kramer's devotion to improving education 
was essential not only to having the new school be built, but also to 
filling it with nearly 400 students. Father Alexander Mayer guided the 
parish through the Depression, World War II and the Korean War, and his 
leadership enabled the church to make it through years of financial 
hardship.
  Father Timothy Edward Murray oversaw the building of the third St. 
Clement Church, as well as set up a program where St. Clement Schools 
became involved in a shared-time program with Center Line Public 
Schools. In 1976, Father James Murphy returned a warmth and camaderie 
to the parish. From 1992-97, the Rev. Dr. Arthur J. Jacobi, Jr.'s many 
skills both as an educator and as a professional businessman helped to 
lead St. Clement both spiritually and financially. And today, Father 
Ron Victor continues in this strong tradition of leadership, overseeing 
the growth and adaptation that is a necessary part of any church's 
history, while at the same time shepherding his parish on its 
continuous mission of faith and love.
  For 150 years, St. Clement Catholic Church has been an essential part 
of the Warren and Center Line communities. It has been a constant 
source of leadership within these communities, and has guided them 
through both good and bad times. It has also provided thousands of 
children with a solid foundation upon which to grow and become 
upstanding members of their own communities. On behalf of the entire 
United States Senate, I congratulate St. Clement Catholic Church on 150 
successful years of leadership and growth, and wish the church 
continued success in the future.

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