[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2161]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO BISHOP JOSEPH L. IMESCH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JERRY WELLER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 7, 2006

  Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bishop Joseph L. 
Imesch who will celebrate 50 years of priesthood on December 16, 2006.
  On June 21, 1931 in Gross Pointe Farms, Michigan, Dionys and Margaret 
Imesch became the proud parents of Joseph L. Imesch. Bishop Imesch 
spent his early years in Michigan attending the following schools: St. 
Ambrose and St. Paul Elementary School, Sacred Heart Seminary High 
School and College. In 1953, the Bishop went to Rome where he attended 
the North American College and received his STL degree. He attended the 
Gregorian University from 1969 to 1970. On December 16, 1956, Bishop 
Joseph L. Imesch was ordained in Rome.
  Most of the Bishop's pastoral ministry was spent in Michigan. From 
1957 to 1959, he was the assistant pastor to the St. Charles Parish in 
Detroit, Michigan. From 1959 to 1971, the Bishop served as a secretary 
to John Cardinal Dearden, Archbishop of Detroit. In 1971, Bishop Imesch 
became the pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows' Parish in Farmington. On 
April 3, 1973, Joseph L. Imesch was ordained as Auxiliary Bishop of 
Detroit and was the Regional Bishop of the Northwest Region, 
Archdiocese of Detroit from 1977 to 1979.
  On August 28, 1979, Bishop Imesch was installed as the third Bishop 
of Joliet. During his tenure, Bishop Imesch served on many committees 
including: Catholic Relief Services Board, Board of Trustees of 
Archdiocese of Chicago Seminaries, Chairman of the NCCB Committee on 
Women in Society and the Church, Chairman of NCCB Committee Writing the 
Pastoral on the Concerns of Women, the Marriage & Family Life 
Committee, Committee for Stewardship, Chairman of NCCB Committee for 
Pastoral Practices, the Retired Religious Grant Review Board, the 
Society of St. James Board, the USCCB Administrative Board, and 
Chairman of Bishops of Region VII. Bishop Imesch retired as Bishop of 
Joliet on June 21, 2006 shortly after his 75th birthday. According to 
Bishop Imesch his only regret is that he turned 75 much too quickly and 
could no longer serve.
  The Diocese of Joliet was established in 1948 and has a Catholic 
population of approximately 636,862. It comprises the counties of 
DuPage, Kankakee, Will, Grundy, Ford, Iroquois, and Kendall.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge this body to identify and recognize other persons 
in their own districts whose actions have so greatly benefited and 
strengthened America's families and communities.




                          ____________________