[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 176 (Tuesday, December 9, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2487]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING ST. HYACINTH BASILICA

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                           HON. RAHM EMANUEL

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 8, 2003

  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of more than 111,000 of my 
constituents who are of Polish descent, I proudly rise to recognize the 
official designation of St. Hyacinth's Church on 3636 West Wolfram as a 
basilica for the Chicago Archdiocese.
  My hometown of Chicago was once said to contain more Poles than any 
city outside Warsaw. Still today, in St. Hyacinth's parish, the area's 
largest and most prominent Polish Catholic parish, residents are just 
as likely to speak Polish as English.
  St. Hyacinth's was founded in 1894 with less than 50 members and has 
grown tremendously over the years. Today, St. Hyacinth's serves over 
8,000 worshippers each week under the guidance of the Resurrectionist 
Fathers, who have served the congregation since its founding.
  Under the leadership of its rector since 1995, Rev. Michal Osuch, St. 
Hyacinth's has actively engaged in the sacramental life of the church 
by developing programs of evangelization that emphasize connecting 
adults, particularly with the sacraments of confirmation and marriage. 
The church also provides a welcoming home for new immigrants every 
month by hosting free English-as-a-Second Language classes, a Polish 
language school for children and many other community activities for 
adults, youth and children.
  In becoming a basilica, St. Hyacinth's was recognized for its 
prestige, its beauty, and its ability to accommodate large numbers of 
parishioners since a basilica is a community's focal point for worship 
and evangelization. Cardinal Francis George validated these features 
last Sunday by formally proclaiming it as ``a place of frequent and 
exemplary liturgical celebration.''
  The petition for basilica status was reviewed by the U.S. Conference 
of Catholic Bishops and approved by the Congregation of Divine Worship 
in Rome. As a basilica, it maintains an obligation to uphold a high 
level of both worship and religious instruction, particularly through 
conferences and speakers.
  Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate St. Hyacinth's on this high honor 
and its upcoming 110th anniversary next year. In earning the 
distinction of becoming a basilica, it has again proven its importance 
as a pillar of Chicago's Polish American community. On this day, I am 
proud to join the people of my district, as well as those of Polish 
descent around the City, in celebrating this historic achievement.

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