[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 60 (Friday, May 4, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E738-E739]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      IN HONOR OF 140TH ANNIVERSARY OF SAINT MARY, STAR OF THE SEA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 3, 2001

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 140th 
Anniversary of Saint Mary, Star of the Sea. The church has served the 
community of Bayonne, New Jersey since 1861. Saint Mary's will 
celebrate its anniversary with a special dinner dance and liturgy on 
May 5, 2001.
  Saint Mary, Star of the Sea is considered the Mother Church of 
Bayonne. It was founded in a small, humble church to serve the needs of 
Irish and German Catholic immigrants. Today, Saint Mary's resides in a 
beautiful Gothic style church, the cornerstone of which was laid on May 
22, 1880. Construction was completed and the church was blessed on 
November 8, 1881.
  Saint Mary's has benefited from the continuous presence of the 
Sisters of Saint Joseph of Chestnut Hill, who have worked with the 
church since 1879, when the parish school opened. Today, the school, 
which offers pre-school through grade 8 instruction, has a student body 
of 300 children. Because of its

[[Page E739]]

record of academic excellence, the school is considered one of the best 
in the area.
  The Church recently adopted a mode of management that focuses on 
mission and ministry, which is called a Pastoral Council of Ministries. 
Under this form of management, parish ministries are clustered into 
four different areas: Word, Worship, Community, and Service. This will 
help strengthen community outreach and spiritual guidance throughout 
the parish. In addition, the church is focused on revitalizing existing 
structures and the formation and construction of a Parish Center, which 
would provide places for meetings and offices for parish groups. To 
meet its goals, two new programs have been implemented: the Stewardship 
Renewal process and the Treasure the Traditional Campaign. Each will 
help raise needed funds for growth and revitalization.
  Throughout the community of Bayonne, Saint Mary's is well known for 
its compassion and generosity and for its involvement in the parish. 
Saint Mary's stands poised to continue as caretaker of the spiritual 
needs of the residents of Bayonne well into the new millennium.
  Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Saint Mary, Star of 
the Sea, the Mother Church of Bayonne, on its 140th Anniversary.

                          ____________________