[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 130 (Monday, September 22, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S11752]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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   CELEBRATING THE 155TH ANNIVERSARY OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL CHURCH

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, it is my great pleasure to 
congratulate Saints Peter and Paul Church for 155 years of dedication 
and service to the Detroit community. On September 24, 2003, people 
will be gathering in my hometown of Detroit, MI to celebrate this 
important achievement. I am also pleased that Michigan's First 
Gentleman, Dan Mulhern, husband of Governor Jennifer Granholm, will 
share in the celebration of Saints Peter and Paul's anniversary.
  Completed and dedicated on June 29, 1848, Saints Peter and Paul 
Church was originally built as the cathedral for the Catholic Church in 
Detroit. It is the oldest church building in continuous use in the 
city. In 1877, Saints Peter and Paul Church was given to the Jesuits to 
be used as a local center for Jesuit ministry and a church for the 
University of Detroit, then named Detroit College. Toward the end of 
the 19th century, working class people, many of them recent immigrants, 
became a large part of the parish population. As a result, Saints Peter 
and Paul Church refocused its ministry in response to the changing 
needs of its congregation.
  After World War I, the prosperity of the church declined because its 
neighborhood became more commercial and industrial. In spite of a 
diminished congregation, loyal community members remained intent on a 
preserving Saints Peter and Paul Church as a place of worship. A sharp 
increase in homelessness in the area toward the end of the 20th century 
strengthened the church's dedication to members of the community in 
need.
  Today, Saints Peter and Paul Church remains committed to serving 
urban Detroit. One of its most important outreach programs is the 
Warming Center, which serves nearly 100 guests a day. Most of the 
visitors are people in need. The Warming Center offers its guests a 
safe haven, a warm meal, hospitality, and an opportunity to engage in 
mutual reflection and sharing. The center also offers free use of a 
telephone, laundry facilities, a shower, and clothing.
  I take great pride in recognizing the commitment of Saints Peter and 
Paul Church to Detroit throughout its 155-year history. The church 
attends to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the Detroit 
community. I know my Senate colleagues join me in saluting the ministry 
of Saints Peter and Paul Church and in wishing the church continued 
support and success in the future.

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