[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 17 (Tuesday, February 26, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING ST. EDWARD CHURCH AND SCHOOL OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE ON THE 
OCCASION OF ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY AND FATHER JOSEPH PATRICK BREEN FOR 40 
                   YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE PRIESTHOOD

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                            HON. BOB CLEMENT

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 26, 2002

  Mr. CLEMENT. Mr. Speaker, I am particularly honored to rise today to 
add my voice to so many of the people in Nashville and throughout 
Tennessee who are taking the time this week to honor St. Edward Church 
and School--which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2002--and its 
pastor, Father Joseph Patrick Breen--who recently marked his 40th year 
in the priesthood. That these two milestones in the spiritual life of 
Nashville occur together is more than appropriate, because both St. 
Edward Catholic Church and Father Breen have been such tremendous 
positive influences in the lives of the people of Nashville.
  A native of Nashville, Joe Pat Breen--one of nine children born to 
the late Paul and Anna Nenon Breen--attended Christ the King School and 
was graduated from Father Ryan High School. He entered St. Ambrose 
College in Davenport, Iowa, and began his seminary training there in 
1956. He was awarded his bachelors degree in 1958; and in the same year 
he entered North American College in Rome to pursue his graduate 
studies in theology. Father Breen was ordained a priest on December 20, 
1961, at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. He later returned to Rome to 
study theology at the Gregorian University; and in 1978, he was granted 
a license in sacred theology.
  Following his ordination, Father Breen served a number of parishes in 
Tennessee, in Nashville (the Cathedral of the Incarnation), Memphis, 
Millington, Bartlett, Chattanooga and Cleveland (and its missions in 
Copperhill and Athens). In addition to being a priest, he was an 
educator, teaching at Christian Brothers High School in Memphis and 
Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga. In 1974, Father Breen was named 
pastor of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Murfreesboro and served 
there for 10 years. During his service in Murfreesboro--a time of 
unprecedented growth in that community--the church there more than kept 
pace, increasing in members and in its impact on the life of the city.
  Since July of 1984, nearly 18 years, Father Breen has been pastor at 
St. Edward Church and the principal at St. Edward School. Under his 
leadership, the parishioners of St. Edward Parish have been inspired to 
give even more of their time, talent and financial support to make St. 
Edward an excellent place to worship and to receive an excellent 
education. This parish is a strong, highly committed community--and the 
depth of that commitment is demonstrated every day in the community 
life of Nashville, Tennessee.
  Knowing the value of Christian education, Father Breen turned his 
attention immediately to the school with full force--and it showed: new 
paint, lighting, structural improvements, compliance with fire and city 
codes, and an upgraded curriculum including a computer center and full-
time computer teacher. In 1999, a capital campaign was launched to 
raise funds for a new addition to the school for a pre-kindergarten 
program. A new church office, rectory and primary wing of the school 
were built. Last year, teachers moved into new classrooms. Today, St. 
Edward Church serves more than 1,100 families, and school enrollment 
has grown to 441 students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
  This kind of progress is no accident. St. Edward is a parish of 
wonderful people--people who love God, their country, their families 
and their community. And they love their pastor--Father Joe Pat Breen. 
They love him because he loves them, and they can tell.
  Father Breen was quoted recently in this way: ``As a priest, you had 
better be close to your blood family, you have to be intimate with 
several good friends, and try to be a very special part of the family 
of the parish.'' Father Breen succeeds in that mission. No one who 
encounters him can help but be touched by his deep compassion for 
others, can fail to be impressed with his devotion to his calling, can 
leave him without a feeling that something or someone greater than 
themselves is at work in the world. Father Breen does not traffic in 
sentimentalism--he deals with a world that includes both great joys and 
deep pain, and he does so, as much as any person can, with the decency 
and genuine concern and desire to help others that his faith--the faith 
of millions of Christians all over the world--demands.
  Mr. Speaker, Father Joe Breen is a respected and beloved priest, a 
successful educator, a mentor to the young, and an inspiration to all 
that know him. He is a fine and good man. He leads a successful and 
forward-looking church. I am proud that he is making a difference for 
the better in Nashville; and, as I said at the beginning of my remarks, 
I am honored to pay tribute to him and to every member of the St. 
Edward parish.

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