[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 137 (Tuesday, October 25, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2161]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING FATHER BRENDAN O'SULLIVAN UPON HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DORIS O. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 25, 2005

  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in tribute to a distinguished 
man who has selflessly served the Sacramento area for almost 50 years. 
Father Brendan O'Sullivan retires this month from St. Anthony's 
Catholic Church in Sacramento. As his parishioners, friends, family and 
colleagues gather to celebrate his decades of ministerial service, I 
ask all of my colleagues to join me in saluting this outstanding 
citizen of Sacramento.
  Father O'Sullivan hails from Ireland, where he was born in Beara and 
studied for the priesthood at St. Patrick's Seminary in Thurles. 
Shortly after being ordained to the priesthood on June 10, 1956 he 
traveled to California to begin service in the Roman Catholic Diocese 
of Sacramento.
  His first assignment in the diocese was as associate pastor of St. 
Joseph's Parish in Redding. Father O'Sullivan then served at various 
northern California churches, including St. Lawrence Parish in North 
Highlands. He served as a Catholic chaplain to the Newman Center at the 
University of California at Davis from 1962 to 1965 and continued 
working with Catholic youth as chaplain of the Newman Center at 
American River College and as an educator at St. Francis High School in 
Sacramento.
  In 1972 he accepted an assignment as a faculty member and director of 
campus ministry at the College of Notre Dame in Belmont, CA. Later, 
Father O'Sullivan was called back to serve in the Diocese of Sacramento 
as associate pastor of St. Joseph's Parish in Clarksburg.
  In 1974 Father O'Sullivan was asked to establish a new parish in the 
Pocket area of Sacramento and was appointed by Bishop Alden J. Bell to 
be the founding pastor of St. Anthony Parish. During the past 30 years, 
he has presided over the parish's phenomenal growth. His natural charm 
and openness to people from all walks of life surely was responsible 
for much of that growth. The parish now has over 2,000 families and is 
highly regarded across the Sacramento region.
  During his tenure as pastor, Father O'Sullivan oversaw the building 
of the church, a religious education center and later a rectory. 
Additionally, a multipurpose Memorial Center was built in 1996 and the 
parish offices were expanded in 2002. Father O'Sullivan had the 
foresight to suggest that the church be structured around a central 
point of assembly that would unify the parishioners. The result was a 
central plaza where parishioners gather before and after Mass and where 
community events are now held. In addition, Father O'Sullivan has 
encouraged St. Anthony members to extend their outreach beyond the 
parish boundaries by participating in numerous social programs in 
Sacramento.
  Father O'Sullivan has served the Diocese of Sacramento in various 
capacities beyond his role of pastor. He has been dean of the City 
Deanery, director of continuing education of priests for the diocese, a 
member of the Council of Priests and the Priest's Personnel Board and 
an advisor in the Diocesan Synod process. He also took a sabbatical to 
study at the University of Louvain in Belgium, one of the great centers 
of Catholic learning.
  Father O'Sullivan has been a visionary leader in implementing the 
reforms and vision of the Catholic Church's Second Vatican Council. He 
urged his parishioners to not be afraid of discussing controversial 
issues, because he is certain that a healthy church is one that allows 
for the free exchange of ideas. Throughout his tenure, he has proven to 
be an effective consensus builder, a pragmatic thinker and a tireless 
worker, who has earned the respect and admiration of those who have 
worked with him.
  Mr. Speaker, as Father O'Sullivan's parishioners, friends and 
colleagues gather to celebrate his great service in the ministry, I am 
truly honored to pay tribute to one of Sacramento's most honorable 
citizens. We all have greatly benefited from having Father O'sullivan's 
strong leadership in our community. His dedication to the people of 
Sacramento spans decades, many churches and thousands of families. I 
ask all of my colleagues to join with me in wishing Father O'Sullivan 
continued success and happiness in all of this future endeavors, 
wherever his retirement may lead him.

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