[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 16, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E843]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE TO MSGR. CIPPEL OF ST. FRANCES CABRINI PARISH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GINNY BROWN-WAITE

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 16, 2006

  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 
a devout servant of the Catholic faith, Msgr. John A. Cippel of the St. 
Frances Cabrini Parish in Spring Hill, FL. Monsignor Cippel is retiring 
after more than 46 years as an ordained priest in the Catholic Church, 
the last 6 serving as monsignor at St. Frances Cabrini.
  Msgr. John A. Cippel is the second pastor of St. Frances Cabrini 
Parish. Appointed in January 1996 by Bishop Robert Lynch to succeed the 
founding pastor, Father David Banks, Monsigor Cippel has served the 
parish with distinction for more than 10 years.
  Ordained a priest on January 28, 1960, Father Cippel is an alumnus of 
St. Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, PA, and St. Louis seminary, Carthage, 
Tunisia. His first years of priesthood were spent as a missionary in 
Tanzania, East Africa.
  Returning to the United States in 1973 to continue his studies at 
Andover Newton Theological School in Boston, Monsignor Cippel received 
the Degree of doctor of ministry from that institution in 1975.
  Following his graduation, Monsignor Cippel moved to Florida to begin 
his ministry as a priest in the Diocese of St. Petersburg. His first 
assignments were associate pastor at St. Martha's Parish, Sarasota, St. 
Charles' Parish, Port Charlotte, and St. Mary's Parish, St. Petersburg. 
In addition to serving as pastor of St. Cecelia Parish, Clearwater from 
1981 to 1990, Monsignor Cippel was also chosen as the spiritual 
director of St. Vincent de Paul Seminary, Boynton Beach, FL. He came to 
St. Frances Cabrini after completing a 5-year span at this seminary.
  Mr. Speaker, over the years I have had the opportunity to see 
Monsignor Cippel interact on a personal and spiritual basis with his 
parishoners at St. Frances Cabrini. Most Thanksgivings I have been at 
the church working with the congregation and Monsignor Cippel to help 
prepare the Thanksgiving feast for those parishoners and all residents 
without family on the holiday.
  Working alongside Monsignor Cippel I saw the compassion in his eyes 
and the dedication in his heart to serving those in need. For many 
years he has been a voice of reason in the Hernando County area and 
someone to whom the entire Catholic community looked up to for widsom 
and clarity of thought.
  Mr. Speaker, on the occasion of Monsignor Cippel's retirement, I 
would like to commend him for his decades of work on behalf of the 
thousands of men and women whose lives he has touched and influenced. 
Monsignor Cippel has given so much to the men and women of Catholic 
faith and it is time that we say thank you to him as he leaves the St. 
Frances Parish.

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